Lee Johnson and Steven Naismith have named their starting teams for the Edinburgh derby.
Hibs host Hearts at Easter Road with both sides out of form and desperate to get back to winning ways with a huge win in Leith. Bragging rights are up for grabs and the chance to inject a major confidence boost heading into the final six games with just one more outing following the conclusion of this game before the league splits into the top and bottom six.
Both sides want to be in the top half of the league but work still needs to be done. Aberdeen picked up another win under Barry Robson last night to open up a five point gap over Hearts in third. That best of the rest spot could prove crucial with Celtic and Rangers still in the Scottish Cup and the winner of the semi-final tie between the pair heavy favourites to lift the trophy. That would mean a Europa League play-off spot and the guarantee of Europa Conference League group stage football once again for third.
READ MORE: Hibs vs Hearts on TV: Channel, live stream and kick-off details for crunch Edinburgh derby clash
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Speaking ahead of the crucial lunchtime kick-off, Johnson told the Hibs website: “I am really looking forward to it. We want this badly, we know our fanbase wants it, our players want it – and we have to show that in our performance.
“The lads know what’s coming – in football, you always have that opportunity in the next game and they come no bigger than this one on Saturday.
“This is an opportunity for us, first of all, we need to secure a top-six finish and then we are targeting those European places. A win on Saturday gives us the opportunity to kick on from a couple of recent disappointments for us.
“We are fully focused on ourselves; we need to make sure we get a fit, hungry, aggressive starting XI on the pitch that can play on the front foot. In a derby, you need all these characteristics.”
Naismith, speaking via Hearts' website, added: “I’ve got a real excitement and adrenaline going, it’s been enjoyable. It’s a great opportunity at a massive club,” he told the media ahead of the game.
“In my eyes, we’re coming up against the toughest run of fixtures we’ll have all season. Going into Saturday, I think it’s a great game to start with. It’s a game that’s easy for everybody to get up for: it’s a derby!
“It’s one we’re really looking forward to, and that’s what’s come across from the boys on the training pitch. There’s no nervousness, it’s just a desire to get out there, play, and do what we can to win.
“If we make mistakes, we make mistakes, but we’ve got a clear plan. We’ll execute that plan as best we can in the week of preparation that we’ve had and I think we’ve got enough to out and win the game.”
Hibs XI: Marshall, Hanlon, Doyle-Hayes, Newell, Cadden, Jeggo, Nisbet, Stevenson, Youan, Fish, Egan-Riley
Subs: Johnson, Miller, Cabraja, Hoppe, Devlin, Henderson, McKirdy, Campbell, Kuharevich
Hearts XI: Clark, Smith, Kingsley, Grant, Shankland, Devlin, Rowles, Halliday, Forrest, McKay, Sibbick
Subs: Stewart, Haring, Kio, Atkinson, Cochrane, Humphrys, Kuol, Hill, Oda
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