Two sides looking to strengthen their places in the top six of the Scottish Premiership will come together on Sunday afternoon as Hibernian host Hearts at the Easter Road Stadium.
The hosts are fourth in the table with 40 points from 28 games, while the visitors are sixth in the standings with 36 points from their 28 matches played.
Match preview
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Hibernian have experienced a season that can be split into two starkly contrasting halves, starting the campaign in miserable fashion before putting together a sensational run in the past weeks.
David Gray's side managed only two wins in their first 16 league fixtures, suffering eight defeats and six draws, a run that also saw Hibs suffer elimination from the Scottish League Cup at the hands of Celtic, losing 3-1 in the second round.
However, a 3-1 victory against Ross County on December 14 marked the beginning of a significantly improved streak, embarking on a remarkable 14-game unbeaten run across all competitions.
Those results have seen Hibs climb from bottom of the table on matchday 16 to fourth in the Scottish Premiership standings after 28 matches, boasting 40 points from 10 wins, 10 draws and eight defeats.
Gray's men now hold a healthy six point lead over seventh-placed St Mirren, and they will be aiming to widen that gap as they look to return to the top six after narrowly missing out last term.
Hibs will face a formidable opponent on Sunday, though, as Hearts head into this clash having suffered only one defeat in their last 11 matches across all competitions.
The Jambos have experienced an extremely similar season to their hosts, facing extreme difficulties at the beginning of the term before surging up the table in the past weeks.
Hearts failed to win any of their initial eight league outings, with two draws and six losses, while they also crashed out of the Europa League qualifying rounds after a playoff round defeat to Viktoria Plzen, a run that saw former manager Steven Naismith lose his job.
Neil Critchley was eventually appointed as the new permanent boss after a brief stint from Liam Fox, and the former Blackpool manager has made a brilliant impact on the Jambos.
Hearts have won 13, drawn five and lost nine of their 27 games under Critchley's leadership, including a particularly fruitful run that has seen them lose just once in their last 11.
Since Critchley took charge for the first time against St Mirren on October 19, Hearts have risen from 10th in the table to sixth in the standings, with 36 points from 10 wins, six draws and 12 losses.
The Jambos now hold a two point lead over seventh-placed St Mirren, meaning a victory is vital to ensure they remain in the top half, while a win would take them to within just one point of Sunday's opponents.
Team News
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Thody Elie Youan is expected to be the only absentee for the hosts, as the forward is expected to remain on the sidelines until early March due to a foot injury.
Kieron Bowie and Junior Hoilett both came off the bench to score the winning goals against Dundee United last time out, netting in the 90th and 100th minutes, and both could be in contention for a start as a result.
As for Hearts, Craig Halkett (hamstring), Frankie Kent (muscle), Stephen Kingsley (hamstring) and Yan Dhanda (hip) are all ruled out for Sunday's outing due to injury problems.
Seventeen-year-old James Wilson has become a regular starter for the Jambos this season, and after scoring against St Mirren on Wednesday, the striker is expected to continue his partnership with Elton Kabangu in attack.
Hibernian possible starting lineup:
Smith; O'Hora, Kiranga, Iredale; Miller, Moriah-Welsh, Triantis, Cadden; Hoilett; Boyle, Bowie
Hearts possible starting lineup:
Gordon; Taylor, Steinwender, McCart, Penrice; Kartum, Baningime, Nieuwenhof; Shankland; Kabangu, Wilson
We say: Hibernian 2-2 Hearts
Both teams are in excellent form heading into this match, undoubtedly boosting their confidence, which suggests a closely contested game that we expect will end in a draw.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
