Analysing the extent of Hearts' off-field difficulties is a bit like trying to peer through frosted glass. You can form a general, vague picture, but it is nigh impossible to comment on the details with any great conviction.

The re-opening of the transfer window on Thursday, therefore, should provide greater transparency for those on the outside attempting to look in. For Vladimir Romanov, Hearts' majority shareholder in absentia, the chance to move on several of the club's assets must seem a very tempting proposition indeed.

There will be no shortage of offers for the likes of Christophe Berra, the rapidly improving central defender, or Andrew Driver, the exciting young winger, while Laryea Kingston, Lee Wallace and Bruno Aguiar would all surely also attract interest from suitors north and south of the Border.

Hearts enter Saturday's derby match with Hibernian already shorn of the services of Wallace and, pending a possible appeal, Marius Zaliukas, both suspended after being sent off against Aberdeen last weekend.

The haste with which they can conduct any transfer business between Ne'erday and Saturday will determine how many more players Csaba Laszlo must replace for the visit of their city rivals. Steven Pressley, at Hampden yesterday to help promote Setanta's coverage of the match, will watch developments at Tynecastle over the next month with interest.

"There's a lot of speculation about the financial predicament at the club," said the former Hearts defender. "The January transfer window will be very interesting and I think it will be a very telling month for the club. We will find out a great deal about their predicament in terms of the need to sell players, and whether they do or don't.

"It's very important that the SPL has a strong Hearts and Hibs. The year we managed to split the Old Firm in 2006 was very exciting. There was a freshness about it. So it's important that Hearts continue to move from strength to strength, as I do believe that they have a very good team.

"If they do manage to keep them together in January and make a couple of additions to the squad, they can certainly have a very good season. The progress this season hasn't surprised me, as Hearts possibly have the best squad of players outside of the Old Firm."

Even the most obstinate manager, however, would struggle to hold on to his stellar talent in the current financial climate. Pressley believes the key to a brighter future for Hearts, and others, is to nurture youth development programmes, then reap the benefits once the player rises to prominence.

"Hearts will always be a selling club, as are Rangers and Celtic. If you have players playing with Scotland it will create interest and these clubs financially have no option but to sell. Hearts are no different.

"You look at young Berra over the last few months. He's maturing all the time and turning into a very good central defender. He will know when it's the right time for him to move on. I've always liked young Lee Wallace. He progressed into the team in my time there and, although he's had an indifferent period, he's come back really strong. He has huge potential as a young player. Plus, there's Andy Driver.

"If you have a look at these players they are all products of Hearts' youth policy. They've sold a lot of players, products of their own development, and now the players attracting the greatest demand, in terms of transfer fees, are the homegrown players. That's the way forward. John Murray, Hearts' academy director, deserves a great deal of credit for the past four or five years for the job he has done."

In the short-term, however, the focus falls solely on the second Edinburgh derby of the season. Pressley, who played for both sides of the Old Firm fixture at different stages of a diverse career, talked up its capital equivalent.

"They've been very exciting encounters over the period. I always enjoyed the games as they always generate a fantastic atmosphere and, generally, a good spectacle. In terms of the outcome, the confidence it brings to a side, and the feelgood factor around the city, it's amazing what a win in the derby can do.

"Over recent years the Old Firm derby has carried greater importance in terms of winning the league, but when it comes to intensity for the supporters the Edinburgh derby carries the same meaning. I was involved in some terrific matches and the games that we won were obviously the greatest memories.

"The game we drew 4-4, while not one of my finest derby performances, had everything in it. It's a cliche that you have to play until the final whistle, but it was summed up that day when we were 4-2 down after 90 minutes and got back to get a draw which almost felt like a victory. It was a fantastic game to be involved in."