Hearts defender Jamie McCart says the team's steady improvement in recent weeks provides the confidence they can overcome Rapid Vienna and reach the Conference League proper.
McCart's return to the starting XI has coincided with a three-game unbeaten run as Wouter Vrancken's methods begin to take hold after his reign began with four defeats on the bounce.
Speaking before Thursday's play-off first leg at Tynecastle, McCart said: "I think you've seen a slow progression with the team, especially in the last few weeks we're looking a lot better.
"When you're in a European game you've got to go in with confidence because you know you're playing top opposition and you've got to be positive."
Rapid arrive in Edinburgh on the back of an 8-0 league victory over Grazer AK and McCart says Hearts are fully aware of the challenge they face.
"The manager's done quite a lot of work on them with us, but also I think we've got to focus on ourselves, especially being home leg first at Tynecastle," he added.
"We want to get the fans right behind us, generate a positive atmosphere and have a positive result to take back to Austria. That would be ideal.
Hearts were beaten heavily by Sturm Graz and Benfica in their previous European ties, but McCart believes those experiences can help the team deal with the demands of facing another strong opponent.
He said: "It's shown in the games, we've had spells, we've been really good, but at this level if you switch off, they can take the game away from you very quickly.
"That was shown away in Austria and Lisbon. There's a couple of quick-fire goals and the tie can be pretty much over,so as a team we've got to draw from that experience and learn from it.
"As a team we want European football, so the target is to get through the tie. I think it would be brilliant for the club and the fans to look forward to, but we know it's going to be a tough tie so we've got to be at our best."
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