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Match preview
It’s time for the 332nd Edinburgh derby, so will Scotland’s capital start 2023 draped in green or maroon?
Back in August, Lawrence Shankland’s opener looked set to secure a famous away win at Easter Road, only for Martin Boyle to equalise in the 95th minute.
As was the case back then, when these two meet, drama is usually guaranteed.
Hearts are unbeaten in seven derby matches, dating back to December 2019, and kick off five points and five places better off than their city-rivals.
On Wednesday night, Hearts won at McDiarmid Park for the first time in 12 years, ousting St Johnstone 3-2.
Shankland converted an early penalty, before Alan Forrest and Barrie McKay were on target in an impressive win.
As a result, the Jambos have climbed up to third, looking to remain there and, for a second successive season, qualify for a UEFA group stage.
Hibernian meantime were hammered by Celtic in midweek, shipping four at home for the first time since January 2014.
Lee Johnson’s team have now lost eight of their last ten Premiership matches, only beating St Mirren and Livingston since 8 October.
On the road, Hibs have won just one of their last eight, this coming at bottom of the table Ross County.
Thus, everything points towards a Heart of Midlothian victory at Tynecastle but, in a derby, you can never be certain.
Heart of Midlothian team news
Hearts are without Criag Gordon, Craig Halkett, Stephen Kingsley, Peter Haring, Beni Baningime, Gary Mackay-Steven and Liam Boyce through long-term injuries.
39 year old goalkeeper Gordon suffered an horrific broken leg at Tannadice on Christmas Eve; deputy Zander Clark therefore made his Hearts debut against former side St Johnstone on Wednesday.
At the other end of the park, Lawrence Shankland captained Hearts for the first time in mid-week, netting his 16th of the season from the spot.
If Robbie Neilson wants to go more defensive, he could bring Michael Smith or Orestis Kiomourtzoglou into the XI.
Andy Halliday scored twice as Hearts beat Hibs 3-1 when they last met at Tynecastle, and he’d love a repeat of that here.
Predicted XI (3-4-3): Clark; Sibbick, Rowles, Cochrane; Forrest, Snodgrass, Devlin, Halliday; McKay, Ginnelly, Shankland.
Hibernian team news
On the flip side, Lee Johnson has a lot more thinking to do, after his team were dismantled by Celtic.
Star man Martin Boyle, who equalised in August’s derby, is out for the rest of the season; a huge blow.
Kevin Nisbet is fit again though, so will continue to lead the line; Mykola Kukharevych is the alternative.
Ryan Porteous, who’s contract will expire in June, has been deployed in midfield since the World Cup break, but yellow card accumulation has led to an untimely suspension.
Nohan Kenneh could be the man to come in.
At left-back, Lewis Stevenson will make his 542nd Hibs appearance, only three men have made more.
He has won 13 of 44 Edinburgh derbies to date, just five of which have come at Tynecastle.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Marshall; Cadden, Bushiri, Hanlon, Stevenson; Kenneh, Newell, Campbell, Magennis, Youan; Nisbet.
