It’s a double derby weekend in the Scottish Premier League with Edinburgh and Lanarkshire rivals going head-to-head for the first time this season.
Saturday’s early kick-off sees second placed Hibernian travel across the city to take on Hearts. On paper, the three points should be heading home on the team bus with John Hughes and his team, who sit 11 points ahead of Csaba Laszlo’s squad with just 10 games played.
It wouldn’t be a derby match without some thrills and spills along the way and with both sets of fans eager to have bragging rights until January. A handsome win at Tynecastle for Hibs could see the go top, albeit temporarily, but Hearts will be dying to burst their rivals’ bubble.
Hibs expect playmaker Merouane Zemmama to be fit to play, with Moroccan returning to light training on Thursday after limping off after just 15 minutes of last Saturday's 2-0 Clydesdale Bank Premier League win over Aberdeen with a groin problem. With no other injury concerns, Hughes is likely to stick with the same starting XI for the fifth straight match.
Hearts will be without Eggert Jonsson, with the Iceland defender suspended following his red card in last weekend’s 1-0 Clydesdale Bank Premier League defeat at Motherwell. The Jambos also have a number of players missing through injury, including Marius Zaliukas (ankle), Suso Santana (hernia), Laryea Kingston (hamstring), Calum Elliot (knee) and David Templeton (foot).
Out west, Motherwell left-back Steven Hammell will miss the Lanarkshire derby at Hamilton tomorrow. Hammell has a hamstring strain and will be given the international break next weekend to recover. Paul Slane (calf) is still missing but otherwise Motherwell have no fresh injuries.
Hamilton captain Alex Neil is unlikely to make his first appearance of the season following summer hip surgery. Neil's bid to build up his match fitness suffered a setback when this week's behind-closed-doors friendly against Dundee United was postponed due to bad weather.
Long-term casualties Derek Lyle and James Gibson both remain on the sidelines with knee problems, while young striker Gary Gow is out with a broken elbow.
Rangers host St Mirren as the Ibrox club look to return to concentrating on football after a week dogged by yet more off-field controversy. Uefa have brought charges against the club after fans clashed with stewards in Romania during the 1-1 Champions League draw with Unirea Urziceni.
Kyle Lafferty and Steven Smith will be missing, with both suffering from food poisoning. Madjid Bougherra has failed to recover from a knee injury, meaning teenager Danny Wilson is likely to make his maiden Ibrox appearance.
Steven Whittaker and Kevin Thomson are both expected to be fit for the game despite missing training on Friday. Pedro Mendes, Kirk Broadfoot and Maurice Edu remain on the sidelines.
St Mirren midfielder Steven Thomson returns from illness for the Saints, but Lee Mair is suspended following his red card in the 2-0 defeat by Hamilton last weekend. Chris Innes is likely to deputise.
Allan Johnston, Steven Robb (both groin), Craig Dargo (shoulder), Chris Smith, Tom Brighton and Mo Camara (all knee) are all long-term injured.
St Johnstone travel to Aberdeen with doubts over the fitness of Steven Anderson and Collin Samuel. Defender Anderson has a toe injury, while striker Samuel is struggling with a knock to the knee. Stuart McCaffrey (groin), Steven Milne (ankle) and Euan McLean (ankle) are definitely out.
Mark McGhee will be without several players for Aberdeen. Chris Maguire and Maurice Ross are both suspended following their dismissals in last weekend’s controversial defeat to Hibernian.
Fraser Fyvie is also out after suffering ankle ligament damage during the game at Easter Road, whilst Zander Diamond remains sidelined by an ankle injury.
Finally on Saturday, Dundee United head south to play Kilmarnock with the Arabs looking to climb possibly to third place in the league if they can win in Ayrshire.
They will have to do without striker Damian Casalinuovo who has been nursing a hamstring problem. Left-back Paul Dixon will have stitches in an eye wound removed prior to kick-off, while long-term absentees Jon Daly (knee), Francisco Sandaza (groin), Kevin Smith (ankle), Lee Wilkie (knee) and Scott Robertson (groin) are all still missing.
On-loan goalkeeper Mark Brown is back in contention for Killie after being ineligible for last weekend’s defeat to Celtic. Jim Jefferies will have to decide between Brown and Cameron Bell, who performed well against the Hoops last weekend.
