Motherwell midfielder Keith Lasley reckons he and his team-mates may have to adapt their game against Hearts on Sunday to suit the foreign officials. Israeli referee Meir Levi will take charge of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash at Fir Park after Scottish referees refused to back down over their weekend of strike action.

"It is a bit different," Lasley said. "Scottish refs know our game inside out, the tackles, the relationship with the players on a personal level. You're going to lose that.

"Foreign refs tend to be a little bit more strict about certain things and we have found that in European games.

"You've just got to try to adjust to that as quickly as you can in the game."

Communication may be an issue at Fir Park with Levi and Israeli fourth official Eli Hacmon assisted by Portuguese assistants Luis Ramos and Inacio Pereira.

And Lasley feels relations with players will also be affected.

"A lot of the referees get to know you over the years and as a more experienced player, you get to know the referees as well," the 31-year-old.

"There is that little bit of to and fro with the ref if you're maybe having a go at the ref.

"They tend to give you a bit more leniency than a foreign ref maybe would, and in the challenge.

"There is no doubt the Scottish game is quite a physical game and a quick game, definitely more physical than you get on the continent.

"That's why you have maybe got to be a bit more careful."