Hearts had the chance to have a real close-up look at FBK Kaunas but found the Lithuanian champions too sharp for them. Kaunas won the behind-closed-doors friendly 2-0 in Walchsee, Austria, where each team has a training camp. Both clubs are sponsored by Vladimir Romanov's Ukio Bankas business, and Hearts faced a club from which several of their own players have been recruited. The 60-minute game saw Kaunas score once in each half, with Ricardas Beniusis - linked with a move to Hearts recently - and an unnamed trialist on target. Hearts assistant boss Stephen Frail said: "It was a useful exercise today. We were able to use all the fit players we have in what was really just a training session."

Kaunas are already midway through their season, and it showed as they had the physical fitness advantage over a Hearts squad who have only just returned to training. The Lithuanians could face Rangers in the second round of Champions League qualifying later this month, providing they see off Montenegro side Zeta. Kaunas take on Zeta on July 17 and 24. Frail found cause for encouragement, despite the defeat, and said: "We're not too disappointed as it's another small step along the way to being ready and prepared for the new season." Hearts fielded almost entirely different teams either side of half-time, with Craig Gordon, Roman Bednar, David Cesnauskis and Andrius Velicka missing out through injury. Meanwhile Hearts are reportedly close to signing transfer-listed Leicester midfielder Stephen Hughes, after tracking the 24-year-old former Rangers player for the past six weeks.