Robbie Neilson admits Hearts have suffered in a European school of hard knocks but he insists it's only whetted their appetite to plot a return.
The Jambos boss will end their failed Europa Conference League campaign tonight against Istanbul Basaksehir in Turkey with one eye already on Sunday's Premiership clash at Tynecastle which will take precedence. But as the curtain drops on a painful Group A experience where they're guaranteed to finish third, Neilson is adamant the focus to make continental adventures the norm.
He said: "We have tasted it and we have learned a lot of lessons, some good lessons and some hard lessons but we have to try and get back again. From our perspective we have this game on Thursday but the main objective now is to get back here next season.
"Obviously with Basaksehir losing last midweek in Fiorentina, they need to win the game to finish top of the group. The way the group is now, the top team goes through and the second team has to play a Europa League drop-out so it makes a huge difference to this game.
"We understand it will be a very difficult game as they have only lost a couple of their last 22 games here. They are a top team and beat Fiorentina here so we have to be at. We need to be fully focused on the game and once we do that we will get ready for the game on Sunday.
"The league is definitely the priority but we have 600 fans with us here in Turkey so it's really important we put a performance on.
"Our last couple of performances have been really good, we have shown energy and hunger but there will be some changes for this game.
"We have a couple of big games coming up before we go to the World Cup break but it will still be a strong team we put out."
Neilson also hailed keeper Craig Gordon who's set to make a record equaling 22nd Hearts appearance in Europe to join Steven Pressley and Henry Smith and he revealed he resisted the urge to field back-up stopper Zander Clark in order to allow his number one to hit the landmark.
He said: "It's an outstanding achievement to get so many games for Hearts. Craig has earned it and has looked after himself to be playing at the age he is at.
"He has so many targets that he wants to try and hit. There are a few more he still wants to hit and playing in Europe next season is a huge objective for him. I'm very proud to have played with and managed him, he's been a credit to the club.
"Craig is going for a record and it's important we help him get that. We will look at the next games coming up, I had a conversation with Craig a few months ago and we spoke about Zander coming in and he'd come out for a few games.
"Craig then chapped my door and said he wants to play in every game and that's the measure of him. He wants to keep playing and is playing at a top level. It's up to the guys to get to that level to try and force their way in."
Hearts will be without Craig Halkett, Kye Rowles and Stephen Humprhys and Stephen Kingsley but Neilson believes his injury worries are starting to ease.
He said: "They are starting to come back, which is great. We have Atkinson back in, Halkett training and Rowles training so they are slowly starting to get there which is good. The idea is not to push them too quickly. We did that previously to get Halkett back for a European game and he broke down so we are treading a bit more carefully.
"Halkett hasn't travelled, he'll stay at home and train with the possibility of being involved on Sunday.
"Peter Haring is back as he's over his concussion protocols and it's important we followed those."
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