INVERNESS midfielder Russell Duncan says Hearts have been transformed by the arrival of manager Csaba Laszlo.
Caley took three points from their two visits to Tynecastle last season thanks to a 3-2 victory back in December, and also beat them at the Caledonian Stadium.
However Duncan is expecting a much tougher challenge this time and feels Laszlo's appoi
ntment has seen the Jambos squad stabilise with mental strength returning to the Hearts players.
After seeing the improvements in the Hearts side, Duncan reckons their opponents will be unrecognisable from last term and warned his team-mates: "Tynecastle is always a hard place to go to pick up points but they are looking a lot stronger now.
"They look like a different team this year. Last season, you did not know which way they were going to go. One week, they were beating Rangers and the next they were drawing with Gretna.
"They will definitely be a different team and we are going to have to defend well if we are going to take anything from the game."
After playing 45 minutes of Caley reserve's 3-0 win over Hibs earlier this week, Duncan is back in contention for a place against Hearts tomorrow. However, having been out of action for a month after pulling his hamstring in the 1-0 defeat to Hamilton back in August, Duncan is not taking anything for granted and added: "I felt okay against Hibs and now I will just have to wait and see how I get on.
"It's been frustrating watching from the sidelines. The boys that have come in have done well and I will probably have to be patient as I look to get back into the team."
The full article contains 295 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
