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Benfica coach Marco Silva wary of Hearts after watching title fight with Celtic Lisbon club host the Edinburgh club at Estadio da Luz Benfica coach Marco Silva today outlined why he is wary of Hearts as the clubs prepare to meet in Lisbon on Thursday night. Having watched last season’s Scottish Premiership title fight on TV, the Portuguese believes the Edinburgh side can cause his team problems in the Europa League third qualifying round. Benfica are overwhelming favourites to progress from the tie before a ball has been kicked. Hearts dropped out of the Champions League following a 6-0 aggregate defeat by Sturm Graz and now face a mammoth task against the Portuguese giants. Silva referenced next week’s return leg at Tynecastle Park but he is primarily concerned that his players take care of business tomorrow. He recalled watching the final Premiership game between Celtic and Hearts in Glasgow. Although there have been sweeping changes at Tynecastle since then - nine new signings and a new manager in Wouter Vrancken - Silva stressed that Hearts are still a genuine danger to Benfica. “Definitely, they are,” he explained. “Of course, as you know, I've been in the English Premier League so many years and the Scottish league or the Premier League in Scotland is something that we followed last season. As always, we need to follow. “I remember watching the last game and that amazing story about the last game and the chances for Hearts to become champions after so many years. Of course, it's going to be dangerous for us, always dangerous. The atmosphere, when you arrive at the second game, is going to be there for sure. It's important to be strong to show our quality, but also respect for the quality they have, quality from last season as well. “A lot of changes, the manager has changed as well and ,of course, they need time to adapt, but they were competing to be in the Champions League. We respect them, respect the competition and of course they are going to make our lives difficult for sure and we have to be ready, we have to be at our best level to be ready to compete and to win it.” Silva worked in England for nine years in total at Hull City, Watford, Everton and Fulham. He was appointed as Jose Mourinho’s replacement by Benfica in June this year and is well versed in what to expect from a British opponent. “It's clear, of course, there are some similarities with the British and with the English Premier League, the Championship as well, with the way they compete,” he said. “The home factor and playing at home is always a big part of their game. The atmosphere around the game and all that stuff is very important in the way they want to play, the way they want to be strong at home. I'm not saying that it's not going to be difficult tomorrow because they are playing away, because they are going to be capable to create problems for us. “That means that we have to be ready, and they are going to demand us to be at our best level. But definitely, it's a team that we respect and the Scottish competition is something that we follow. Two big clubs most of the time they get the title there and the fight between them is huge every single time. Last season was a good example of when one club started to go and compete with them. I think it's good for the competition. It's good for you that you follow, to make other clubs to be involved in that competition between the two biggest clubs in the country.” Benfica will approach both legs of the tie with Hearts differently and will make a change to their defence after selling captain Antonio Silva to Bournemouth in a £26m deal. “Yes, it is a different thing. We are in a decision in two games so it's different in that aspect. The home factor is something decisive,” said Silva. “In the second leg, we will not have that. We will try to impact with the home factor. “We will try to play with that. To feel the importance and to know the importance of playing the first knockout game in the Benfica stadium - and try to have an impact with that in this game. That's the different thing compared with the game against St Gallen. We will try to give answers in the game comparing with the last game. It will be a different team. They [Hearts] have similar things but they are a different team in the defensive moment and the offensive moment. The main difference is in the offensive moment and the ambition to win the game. Of course, we would like to go comfortable to the next game but as of now we need to win this game.”