Hearts 'have to be above emotions', says Wouter Vrancken before Stenhousemuir cup tie

Hearts must "rise above the emotions" of being strong favourites away to Stenhousemuir on Friday with a place in the Premier Sports Cup semi-finals at stake, says head coach Wouter Vrancken.

The Tynecastle side are unbeaten in their past eight matches, but Vrancken is wary of the challenge posed by the surprise Scottish Championship leaders on their own artificial surface at Ochilview.

"It's not about Astro, it's not about stadium, it's not about all those things. Excuses are for losers, let's say," Vrancken said as he demands the same focus shown in the recent Edinburgh derby and European qualifiers.

"You have to prepare, you have to prepare yourself and you have to be ready. You have to cope with those things and be ready and be above.

"Like I told the players also before the Hibs game, we have to be above the emotions.

"Here also you have to be above the emotions. You are the favourites playing against the underdogs and this is a totally different situation as playing Benfica."

Visit our Hearts page for all the latest news, analysis and fan views

Get Hearts news notifications in the BBC Sport app

Stenhousemuir took Motherwell to exta time before winning 1-0 at Ochilview in round two.

"The game is 90 minutes, we don't have to decide the game in the first 15 minutes," added Vrancken.

"We will try from the first second to play our game and then we'll see where we get. The most important thing is going to the next round.

"Even when you don't score directly, you have to stay in your game. It's a cup game. You cannot underestimate the opponent. They're also there for a reason. They're a good side.

"We have to be ready to deal with it and to go our chances without thinking it's going to be easy. When you do this, then for sure you're lost already before the game. We have to be ready as well as mentally, as technically, as tactically."

Friday's tie marks the start of a demanding run of fixtures for Hearts, who face away trips to Falkirk and Kilmarnock over the following week.

With at least six Conference League matches still to come before Christmas, squad management will become increasingly important.

"This is the thing we want," continued Vrancken. "Otherwise we don't have to qualify for the league phase in Europe.

"You have to try to measure the fatigue and also talk with the players. At the moment you have to make a decision and you also have to have an eye on the players who maybe are stronger in those things.

"This is a lot of talking and feeling and trying to have objective numbers as much as possible to make decisions."

Stenhousemuir boss Marvin Bartley is yet to taste defeat over 90 or 120 minutes after 10 games in charge.

And the former Livingston manager talked of his players being on the "same wavelength" before Hearts' visit.

"We have clarity of everything we do, whether it be on the ball, whether it be off the ball, whether it be set-plays, whatever else it might be," he explained.

"We try and take the guessing out of it. A lot of people look at attacking and they think it has to have some sort of structure to it and when it comes to defending, it's kind of off the cuff. We're the opposite with that.

"We need to know when the ball's in certain situations, in certain areas of the pitch, how we're going to defend it."

Midfielder Lewis O'Donnell says the Warriors are benefiting from the freedom offered by Bartley.

"He tells us all when we get in that attacking area just to be creative, make things happen," the 21-year-old said.

"Don't be like a robot. Go and express yourself. I feel like all the boys have done that so far."