Hearts face daunting European task regardless of Sturm Graz result

Hearts will meet Fenerbahce or Gornik Zabrze if they get past Sturm Graz in Champions League qualifying. If Hearts lose to Austrian side Sturm, the winners of the tie between Benfica and St Gallen of Switzerland await in the Europa League. In either case, a daunting task likely lies ahead for Wouter Vrancken's team. Fenerbahce are heavy favourites to progress against Gornik Zabrze - who finished second in Poland's top flight last season - and the Turkish outfit have a host of big name players in their squad. Former Manchester City defender Nathan Ake and former Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood have both signed this summer, to go alongside the likes of N'Golo Kante, Marco Asensio, Ederson and Milan Skriniar. They are ranked 30th in Uefa's club coefficient rankings, more than 100 places above Hearts. One would also expect Benfica to progress from their tie against St Gallen, should that be the route Hearts go down. The Portuguese giants were unbeaten in the Primeira Liga last season, but finished third after 11 draws left them behind both Porto and Sporting. They also reached the knockout phase of the Champions League under Jose Mourinho after victories against Ajax, Napoli and Real Madrid, before Real got their revenge in the play-off round with a 3-1 aggregate victory. Mourinho has since returned to Los Blancos and has been replaced in the Benfica dugout by former Everton and Fulham boss Marco Silva. Greek striker Vangelis Pavlidis is a prolific goal scorer, netting 30 times in all competitions last season, while Norway's Andreas Schjelderup and Rafa Silva are dangerous wingers. Sturm pose a tough test for Wouter Vrancken's competitive bow as Hearts boss and things will not get any easier for the Belgian coach and his new-look squad as he tries to guide the Tynecastle outfit back to European group stage football.