Head coach Wouter Vrancken has urged his Hearts players to "take the next step" by overcoming Rapid Vienna and securing a place in this season's Conference League.

The sides drew 2-2 at Tynecastle last week, leaving the tie finely balanced before Wednesday's meeting in Austria.

Vrancken believes his team have made significant progress since he took charge and says they now have the confidence to compete with Austrian side Rapid.

"For sure, the progress is there," the Hearts boss said. "[The players] feel we can get a good result and we can match them.

"We have to show this conviction and belief in a difficult away game. It will be necessary to put it all in out there to take a good result.

"And the only good result is when you go through to the league phase. Let's take the next step again [on Wednesday]."

Hearts have been handed tough draws in their European qualifiers this season, losing in the Champions League to Sturm Graz before being eliminated from the Europa League by Benfica.

However, Vrancken believes Conference League qualification against another challenging opponent would provide a significant boost to his squad.

"It would be a great result and a massive result for the confidence of the players, but also for the whole club," he added.

"They are a good side, and it's an away game in a hostile atmosphere, so we have to be on top of our qualities and to make the result."

Vrancken will be without left-back Harry Milne, who has failed to recover in time for the game, while midfielder Laurent Mendy has travelled and is fit to feature if required.

New striker JJ Williams is ineligible to play on Wednesday because he is not yet registered in Hearts' European squad, but he will be eligible to face St Johnstone this weekend.

American forward Williams has boosted Vrancken's forward options by joining from Rhode Island on a two-year deal for an undisclosed fee.