Hearts beat Rangers 2-1 on Sunday
Hibernian drew 1-1 at Dundee United last weekend
Recommended bet: Draw
Fifth-placed Hibernian will be desperate to overturn leaders Hearts as the first Saturday after Christmas kicks off with a highly-anticipated Edinburgh derby.
Hearts have already beaten Hibs once this season and three straight wins, two of them against Celtic and Rangers, have cemented their place at the head of affairs.
But they know a trip to Easter Road will be tough, especially with David Gray's men desperate to stay in the scrap for European qualification.
The latest Hibernian vs Hearts odds are available on LiveScore Bet.
Team news
Hibernian are missing mainstay central defender Rocky Bushiri, one of a trio of Easter Road men away at the Africa Cup of Nations. Jordan Obita and Miguel Chaiwa are the other two.
Warren O'Hora, who missed the 1-1 draw at Dundee United last weekend, has recovered from his illness while Chris Cadden is also back after being at the birth of his child.
Hearts' boss Derek McInnes will miss the influence of Landry Kabore, another AFCON absentee.
The Jambos are still without Calem Nieuwenhof but Harry Milne is available after a ban and Craig Halkett is fit.
The latest Hibernian vs Hearts odds are available on LiveScore Bet.
The stats
Hibernian are going through a sticky patch with only one win in five games and had to settle for a 1-1 draw at Dundee United last weekend.
Hearts have won three in a row, including 2-1 successes over both Celtic and Rangers, and have lost only one of 23 matches across all competitions this season.
Each of the last six Edinburgh derbies have been level at half-time.
Hibs' home games in the league this term are averaging 12 corners per fixture.
The latest Hibernian vs Hearts odds are available on LiveScore Bet.
Prediction
Hearts pipped Hibernian 1-0 when the sides met in Methil in October, just the latest in a string of tight tussles between these neighbours and rivals.
Of the last nine showdowns between the Edinburgh giants, four have ended up in draws and the other five were only decided by a single goal.
Hearts clearly have an edge over Hibernian but not enough to suggest they warrant an interest.
This will be a tough trip for them against a decent outfit and the possibility of a draw compelling.
Derek McInnes's pace-setters are clearly doing nothing wrong and, having emerged from fixtures against Celtic and Rangers with six points to their name, have every reason to start feeling invincible.
They are 7/5 favourites with LiveScore Bet for this assignment, but it is not so long ago they were being held at St Mirren and Motherwell and losing 1-0 at Aberdeen, their only defeat of the season.
That, in turn, has to give Hibs a lift though they know they cannot give any hope to Lawrence Shankland and Claudio Braga, the Jambos' in-form front two.
Matches between these two are rarely high scorers, always close so the draw looks a big runner.
Back Draw at 11/5 with LiveScoreBet.
The latest Hibernian vs Hearts odds are available on LiveScore Bet.
