Two places separate Edinburgh rivals Hearts and Hibernian in the Scottish Premiership table heading into gameweek 19's Boxing Day derby at Tynecastle Park.
HMFC returned to winning ways before Christmas and aim for consecutive Premiership wins for the first time this season against an opponent chasing three league victories on the trot.
Match preview
Hearts have had an inconsistent league campaign as the midway point approaches, with Neil Critchley's men failing to win consecutive matches.
While Critchley inherited the Jam Tarts' erratic performances and results after taking charge in October, following Liam Fox's interim spell, the Englishman has yet to find the modus operandi to secure wins consistently to rise in the standings.
Hearts' latest victory, a 2-1 triumph over St Johnstone, was the club's second in three, with success before Christmas either side of a 1-0 loss at Kilmarnock.
The Gorgie Boys have another chance to record back-to-back victories on Boxing Day; playing at home, where they have secured six points from the last two against Dundee FC and St Johnstone, bodes well for their prospects.
Victory over their capital rivals Hibs would take them above their visitors in the standings, a result that would end the visiting club's two-match winning run.
David Gray's men have scored or conceded three goals or more in their last six Premiership matches, although the Hibees have only been on the wrong end three times: the 4-1 loss to Dundee, the 3-3 draw with Aberdeen and the 3-0 loss at Celtic.
That reverse at the home of the defending champions is mollified when the results preceding it (a 3-0 win at Motherwell) and 3-1 victories over Ross County and Aberdeen are considered.
Nevertheless, getting the better of their fellow Edinburgh outfit will please supporters, who aim to celebrate three Premiership victories on the trot for the first time since December 2023, when Hibs defeated Kilmarnock (1-0), Dundee (2-1) and Aberdeen (2-0).
The ongoing run is the away side's longest winning streak in 12 months, highlighting the broader inconsistency in performances and results over an extended period.
It remains to be seen if that changes on Boxing Day, with four of the previous five match-ups between the clubs ending in score draws and Hearts winning the other at the end of 2023.
Team News
Although Frankie Kent and Calem Nieuwenhof are doubtful for Hearts, the pair of Gerald Taylor and Stephen Kingsley are not expected to play any part in the Edinburgh derby.
Blair Spittal and Lawrence Shankland have each netted three goals, accounting for six of the Gorgie Boys' 20 goals, and the attackers aim to add to their tally.
The pair also lead for big chances created, six for Shankland and five for Spittal, highlighting their importance to the home side's attacking game plan.
Hibs will check if the trio of Marvin Ekpiteta, Rudi Molotnikov and Mykola Kuharevich are available to play on December 26; Kieron Bowie is ruled out for the visitors.
Nicky Cadden has been involved in four goals and an assist this term, one shy of the team's top-ranked Martin Boyle, who has six goal involvements.
With Josef Bursik now playing backup to Jordan Smith between the sticks, the Englishman could be overtaken by Hearts' Craig Gordon for clean sheets (both goalkeepers have two shutouts before round 19).
Hearts possible starting lineup:
Gordon; Forrester, Oyegoke, Rowles, Penrice; Boateng, Devlin; Drammeh, Shankland, Spittal; Wilson
Hibernian possible starting lineup:
Smith; O'Hora, Bushiri, Iredale; C. Cadden, Triantis, Newell, N. Cadden; Campbell; Youan, Boyle
We say: Hearts 2-2 Hibernian
Although Hearts have claimed four wins in the previous 10 derbies, only one of those victories has come in the previous 12 months.
Another Edinburgh derby stalemate is anticipated on Thursday, with both sides finding the back of the net at Tynecastle Park.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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