Two teams in the bottom half of the Scottish Premiership will do battle at Easter Road on Saturday as Hibernian play host to newly-promoted Kilmarnock.

Both sides head into this contest after winning only one of their opening five top-flight games so far this term.

Match preview

© Reuters

After securing a 1-0 win away at St Johnstone on the opening weekend of the new Premiership season, Hibernian have since fluctuated between a defeat and a draw in their last four matches.

Hibs have arguably claimed solitary points in their toughest fixtures to date, drawing 1-1 in the Edinburgh derby against Hearts before playing out an action-packed 2-2 draw against nine-man Rangers.

However, Lee Johnson's men have suffered defeats away from home against Livingston and St Mirren, losing 1-0 against the latter last weekend.

Hibs will be confident of returning to winning ways on Saturday, as they have won each of their last five meetings against Kilmarnock.

The Edinburgh outfit are also unbeaten in each of their last eight Premiership matches at Easter Road, their longest league run without defeat on home soil since October 2018 under former boss Neil Lennon (14 games unbeaten).

© Reuters

Kilmarnock followed up their first league win of the season against Motherwell last weekend with a slender 1-0 victory away against Hearts in the second round of the Scottish League Cup on Wednesday.

Innes Cameron scored his first strike of the campaign and the only goal of the game in the 21st minute to help Killie progress to the third round for just the second time in the last seven years.

Derek McInnes will be keen to see his side kick on and build their positive momentum with another victory this weekend against Edinburgh-based opposition.

However, Kilmarnock have struggled in recent years when travelling to Hibs and have failed to win any of their last seven league visits to Easter Road, conceding at least twice on five of those occasions.

The East Ayrshire side have also won only three of their last 13 away league matches, a run which dates back to the beginning of December in the middle of last season's title-winning Championship campaign.

Team News

© Reuters

Hibs have confirmed that defender Rocky Bushiri is ruled out for over two months after sustaining an ankle injury in training this week.

Demetri Mitchell (hamstring), Aiden McGeady (ligament), Kyle Magennis and Kevin Nisbet (both knee) are also on the treatment table with injuries.

Hibs have allowed Christian Doidge to join Kilmarnock on a season-long loan deal, although the striker is ineligible for Saturday's game.

Elias Melkersen is the most likely candidate to replace Doidge in the starting lineup, joining Martin Boyle and Elie Youan in attack.

As for Kilmarnock, Jordan Jones (thigh), Zach Hemming (groin), Scott Robinson (heel) and Jeriel Dorsett (knee) are all ruled out with injuries.

McInnes is expected to recall a number of his first-team regulars who were rested in midweek, with the likes of Kyle Lafferty and Oli Shaw competing for a place up front.

Centre-back Ash Taylor, who has scored two of Kilmarnock's three Premiership goals this season, is set to continue in the back three alongside Lewis Mayo and Joe Wright, while Kerr McInroy could replace Ben Chrisene at left wing-back.

Hibernian possible starting lineup:
Marshall; Cadden, Porteous, Hanlon, Cabraja; Doyle-Hayes, Newell, Campbell; Boyle, Melkersen, Youan

Kilmarnock possible starting lineup:
Walker; Wright, Taylor, Mayo; Alebiosu, Power, Polworth, McInroy; McKenzie; Lafferty, Shaw

We say: Hibernian 1-1 Kilmarnock

Although Kilmarnock have struggled at Easter Road in recent visits, they will fancy their chances of claiming maximum points against an out of-sorts Hibs outfit this weekend.

However, we feel that the hosts will have enough quality in their side to claim at least a point, even though they have a number of players on the sidelines.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

Written by
Oliver Thomas

Previews by email