High-flying Hibernian are set to host bottom-of-the-table St Johnstone at the Easter Road Stadium on Saturday evening in the Scottish Premiership.
The hosts are third in the standings with 44 points from 30 games, while the visitors are at the foot of the table with 26 points, trailing safety by six points.
Match preview
© Imago
Hibernian's 2024-25 season has been a tale of two extremely contrasting halves, with a difficult first half of the campaign followed by significant improvement in recent months.
Hibs won only two of their opening 16 Scottish Premiership fixtures, suffering eight defeats and recording six draws in that time, leaving them bottom of the table on matchday 16.
However, David Gray has led the side to a remarkable run in the following fixtures, remaining undefeated in the next 14 league matches with nine wins and five draws.
Those results have seen the Hibs rapidly rise from bottom of the table to third in the standings with just three fixtures remaining before the table splits, and Gray will be hoping to ensure they finish in the top half.
Hibernian are six points above seventh-placed Motherwell, meaning two wins from their final three fixtures would confirm a top-six place, and they will aim to get off to a winning start on Saturday.
Their opponents, St Johnstone, will be entering into the game as the major underdogs, but they will be extra motivated as all three points could prove crucial to their survival hopes.
The Saints, who started the campaign under Craig Levein before Simo Valakari was appointed, are 12th in the standings with 26 points from 30 games, leaving them six points adrift of safety.
St Johnstone have won only seven, drawn five and lost 18 of their league fixtures, but they are unbeaten in their last four across all competitions heading into this one, with two wins and two draws.
The visitors also have a positive record at the Easter Road Stadium in recent meetings, with two wins and just two defeats from their last four visits, though they were defeated in this fixture earlier in the campaign.
Team News
© Imago
The hosts are anticipated to be without the services of Joe Newell (groin) and Nicky Cadden (hamstring) due to ongoing injury issues, with both unlikely to return until next month.
Martin Boyle has scored three goals in his last five appearances for club and country, and the striker is likely to partner Kieran Bowie in the attacking areas.
Elsewhere, a defence of Lewis Miller, Rocky Bushiri Kiranga and Jack Iredale are expected to start, with Christopher Cadden and Jordan Obita playing from wide areas.
As for the visitors, Bozo Mikulic (cruciate ligament), Uche Ikpeazu (unspecified) and Sam McClelland (Achilles tendon) are all doubts due to injury problems.
Jason Holt and Sven Sprangler are likely to continue their partnership in the middle of the park, while changes to the front three could see Stephen Duke-McKenna, Adama Sidibeh and Benjamin Mbunga-Kimpioka start.
Hibernian possible starting lineup:
Smith; Miller, Kiranga, Iredale; Cadden, Triantis, Levitt, Obita; Hoilett; Boyle, Bowie
St Johnstone possible starting lineup:
Fisher; Balodis, Mitchell, Douglas; Curtis, Holt, Sprangler, Wright; Mbunga-Kimpioka, Sidibeh, Duke-McKenna
We say: Hibernian 2-0 St Johnstone
These two sides played out a 1-1 draw in their most recent meeting, but Hibs claimed a 2-0 home victory earlier in the campaign, and with the hosts currently on a sensational unbeaten run in the league, we anticipate that streak to continue with another home win.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
