In Edinburgh, however, there are a few surveying the scene at Hibernian and wondering just how significant this weekend's derby could be for Pat Fenlon.
It has been a difficult close season for anyone with a connection to the Easter Road club, an entire summer to stew over the embarrassing thrashing handed out by Hearts in the Scottish Cup final in May. It laid bare just how big a rebuilding job Fenlon had on his hands if he is to make Hibs competitive again after a season spent scrambling around towards the foot of the table desperately trying to avoid the ignominy of relegation.
Players came and went over the summer but on the opening day the outcome was just the same. Hibs slumped to a 3-0 defeat to Dundee United at Tannadice last Sunday, a result that had the effect of heaping further pressure on the Irishman's shoulders. Now looming large is the first Edinburgh derby of the season at Easter Road. You have to go back to May 2009 to find the last time Hibs got one over on their city rivals, a winless streak that now stretches to 11 games. Victory on Sunday, therefore, would both end that sorry sequence and also give Hibs a much-needed lift in morale.
"I came to Hearts full aware of the importance of playing in this game," said Joe Jordan, the former Hearts manager. "I know winning the derby can win you time, as well as points. It gives you breathing space to try and develop things the way you want to. Thankfully I never lost a derby game so it gave me time while I was in charge. Obviously not enough though. The cup final was a killer for Hibs. they've got something to put right. For those players and supporters, there are a lot of wounds to heal."
There have been major changes at Hearts, too, since their cup final success. Manager Paulo Sergio has departed to be replaced by John McGlynn, while several big-name players including Rudi Skacel, Craig Beattie and Ian Black have all moved on. It will likely mean a more youthful look to the Hearts team this season, something Jordan welcomed as long as their introduction to first-team football is handled carefully.
"We [Tottenham Hotspur, where Jordan was assistant manager] played Hearts last year and played extremely well," he added. "I look at the team they played and it was obvious they wanted to promote the young lads. That's a delicate thing because you need the balance. You need some experience so you don't kill the confidence of the kids. That's the future but they have to be educated. That comes by learning from good pros. Derbies aren't easy when you're young but that's down to the manager to make sure he gets the blend right.
"Hearts started with several kids from their academy [last weekend against St Johnstone] and that's terrific. But you still need one or two who will help, handle and look after the younger ones. The most important players in the team are the ones who will educate. When I was at Morton I had Bobby Collins show me the ropes. He was in his forties but he still had the enthusiasm. I latched on to every word he said. Although Don Revie was the best manager I ever played under, when I was at Leeds it was the players who gave me my education. What they told me and advised kept me right."
Jordan, as one of this country's most successful footballing exports, has been questioned on the state of Scottish football following Rangers' demise everywhere he has gone. "It's something that shocked everybody, even people down south. I went to Italy for a few days to see some friends and it was even mentioned over there. It's happened in other countries for different reasons, but when it happens to a club the size and stature of Rangers it sends shockwaves out. The question everyone was asking down south was 'how could this happen?'.
"I think what happened to Rangers was a warning to everyone. That's what has come out in terms of the discussions people are having. This isn't something that happens to smaller or less famous clubs and that's something we need to take heed of. It's made people stop and think. "
n Jordan was promoting ESPN's coverage of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League and the Irn-Bru Scottish Football League.
