Ross County play host to Hibernian on Wednesday evening looking for a win that could take the club into the top six of the Scottish Premiership standings.
Meanwhile, the visitors head into this contest sitting bottom of the table, albeit just four points adrift of their seventh-placed opponents.
Match preview
© Imago
With just two wins coming from their opening 10 league games this season, Ross County boss Don Cowie will not be satisfied with his team's performances.
Nevertheless, having finished 11th in the top flight during 2023-24, occupying seventh at this stage is a considerable step in the right direction.
The second victory came as recently as Saturday, Ross County coming from behind against 10-man Kilmarnock to earn a 2-1 triumph.
Eight of their 10 points this campaign have come at their home ground, the Staggies playing two more fixtures at Victoria Park than they have on their travels.
Their only two defeats on familiar territory have been by one-goal margins to the top two in Celtic and Aberdeen.
Meanwhile, Hibs find themselves at the bottom of the table courtesy of only recording one win from their 10 league matches in 2024-25.
David Gray would have thought that his team were on their way to a second on Sunday afternoon having held a lead in the Edinburgh derby against Hearts.
Although a 1-1 draw ended a run of three straight defeats, conceding an equaliser three minutes from time only increased the frustration at Easter Road.
In their four away fixtures this season, Hibs have collected just the one point - at ninth-placed Kilmarnock - and only scored three goals.
Team News
![Hibernian Manager David Gray during the Premier Sports Cup Group C match at Easter Road, Edinburgh UK against Peterhead on July 27, 2024 [on August 2, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/31/david-gray.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Hibernian Manager David Gray during the Premier Sports Cup Group C match at Easter Road, Edinburgh UK against Peterhead on July 27, 2024 [on August 2, 2024]")
© Imago
Left-sided Ross County player Elijah Campbell is back from suspension, but it is unclear whether the Everton loanee will be granted an immediate recall.
Cowie's substitutions at the weekend reflected their opponents going down to 10 men, yet Michee Efete, Scott Allardice and Eamonn Brophy will all hope for recalls to the side.
Mykola Kuharevich is in line for an opportunity in the Hibs attack having scored as a substitute against Hearts.
Joe Newell may also be restored in central midfield having served a one-match ban, with Nectarios Traintis and Dwight Gayle potentially dropping down to the replacements.
Ross County possible starting lineup:
Laidlaw; Wright, Lopata, Leak; Brown, Denholm, Randall, Reid; Chilvers; White, Hale
Hibernian possible starting lineup:
Bursik; Miller, Ekpiteta, O'Hora, Obita; Kwon, Newell; Boyle, Hoilett, Youan; Kuharevich
We say: Ross County 2-1 Hibernian
While the gap in quality is perhaps not as significant as the league table suggests, we can still only see one winner here. As well as being frustrated with Sunday's result, Hibs have also had one less rest day, something that we feel could prove pivotal.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
