Hearts v Hibs
Tynecastle - CBSPL
Monday 6th August

Welcome to Tynecastle for this evening's game and it's great to see the stadium once again sold out.

The first match of any new league campaign is always an occasion which excites the supporters and today's curtain raiser to our Clydesdale Bank Premier League season is made all the more special with city rivals Hibs our opponents.

It doesn't seem so long ago that we were bringing last season to a close at Tynecastle with victory over our friends from Easter Road.

I felt that was a deserved triumph and if we show the same sort of commitment and attitude tonight, then I am confident we can produce another good result.

The squad has been working hard in pre-season and we had two good training camps in Austria and Germany, followed by the match against Barcelona at Murrayfield last weekend, which was a superb spectacle.

Everything during the pre-season which myself and Stephen Frail have been working on has been geared to ensure the players are properly prepared for our first match and they are all raring to go again as we strive to kick things off with three points.

You all gave the team tremendous support last season which was greatly appreciated and can I ask you to get behind the players again in similar fashion as there is no doubt your backing from the stands can have a very positive effect on those on the pitch.

Enjoy the game!

Anatoly Korobochka
Sport Director