Defender Jack Iredale, 28, says the Hibernian dressing room was buoyant after their 3-1 Saturday win over Aberdeen but "instantly ready for business" with Thursday's trip to face Hearts on the horizon. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription), external
Image source, SNSHearts hope to welcome back Beni Baningime after his recent knee issues but Gerald Taylor (knee), Calem Nieuwenhof (hamstring), Stephen Kingsley (hamstring) and Frankie Kent (quad) are still out.
Hibs pair Warren O'Hora (ankle) and Joe Newell (muscle) are hoping to recover from injuries sustained in Saturday's win at Aberdeen.
Attackers Mykola Kuharevich and Rudi Molotnikov could return after missing out recently with groin issues. Marvin Ekpiteta (thigh) and Kieron Bowie (hamstring) are still out.
Hibs are winless in six Scottish Premiership away games against rivals Hearts (D4 L2) – but their last such win came on Boxing Day in 2019 (2-0).
Hearts have only lost one of their last 12 Scottish Premiership meetings with Hibs (W4 D7), going down 1-0 in April 2023.
Excluding own goals, Lawrence Shankland has scored five of Hearts' last nine Scottish Premiership goals against Hibs.
Hibs have won three of their last five Boxing Day games in the top flight (D1 L1), this after losing five in a row beforehand.
This is Hearts' first Scottish Premiership game on Boxing Day since 2021, when they beat Ross County 2-1. Hearts last won successive Boxing Day matches in the top flight in 2005/2006.
Andy Campbell
BBC Sport Scotland
Boxing Day kicks off with a festive cracker at Tynecastle as Edinburgh's big two, Hearts and Hibernian, meet for the second time this season.
Last time out, it was 1-1 draw at Easter Road, with Hearts striking late to deny Hibs.
The city rivals have largely struggled this season but both have improved of late, particularly Hibs. David Gray's side left Aberdeen's Pittodrie with all three points on Saturday - their third win in four league games.
Hearts moved off the foot of the table and sent St Johnstone bottom by beating the Perth side 2-1 at home on Sunday. European games may have been a distraction for Neil Critchley's side this season but it is just domestic games from here on in.
Victory for the hosts and they will move above David Gray's Hibs. Should the Easter Road side win, they will increase the gap between the teams to five points. Four of the past five meetings have ended drawn and the last two wins in the fixture have been by a solitary goal.
To save their league season, both teams really need to be pushing into the top six and Thursday's game could be just the springboard if one of them can pick up all three points.
Matty Fairnie
Fan writer
Hibs scored three goals for the fourth time in five matches as we brushed Aberdeen aside, coming from behind to win consecutive games for the first time this season.
It was probably our best performance of the season, as the team showed a togetherness and fight that had been posted missing in earlier games.
Despite falling behind to a goal that was far too easy for Aberdeen to score, Hibs levelled quickly though Elie Youan, before Nicky Cadden stole the show with a thumping volley from Martin Boyle's deep cross.
Boyle had come back into the team after losing what looked to be a virtually guaranteed starting spot in recent weeks, and he played like someone with a point to prove.
He was back to his talismanic best, tormenting the Dons defence and playing a key part in all three Hibs goals, with two assists preceding a fine finish of his own to seal the game early in the second half.
Hibs didn't do much in an attacking sense after that third goal, with injuries to Joe Newell and Warren O'Hora contributing to the drop in fluency, but what we lacked in attacking intent, we more than made up for in determined defending as we held out to secure another vital three points.
Youan celebrated with the large travelling support at the end as he and the players took the plaudits, and we now head to Tynecastle on Boxing Day in far better shape than seemed likely a few short weeks ago.
David Gray deserves immense credit for the turnaround. I thought he was effectively a dead man walking after the defeat to Dundee, but I'm delighted he's put together a run of results to quieten the noise around his future.
Matty Fairnie can be found at Longbangers Podcast, external
Former Hibernian player Ian Murray, 43, is a candidate to replace James McPake as Dunfermline Athletic boss. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription), external
Former Hibernian player Ian Murray talks to the Scottish Football Podcast about the Easter Road club's recent upturn in form.
Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter
Forcing Nicky Cadden into a left midfield berth here because there is no way I can leave him out and I needed to include James Penrice as well. Superb defensively and going forward and got himself on the scoresheet in that impressive win at Aberdeen. One of the key players making a real difference all of a sudden at Hibs.
Two assists and a goal from the pace merchant. What more needs to be said? Both Martin Boyle and Hibs suddenly look revived.
Another Hibs player who has enjoyed a huge upturn in form, reflected by a huge upturn in results. Another goal and looks like Elie Youan is enjoying his football.
Watch the best of the action from Pittodrie as Hibs beat Aberdeen lose 3-1 in the Scottish Premiership.
(Available to UK users only)
We asked for your views on Hibs' 3-1 Premiership win against Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
Here's what some of you said:
Paul: A good team performance. Hopefully the start of a run of wins as points needed to move up the table.
Scott: So pleased for David Gray and his players. However, the basement is going to be a dogfight this season as there are some very poor teams so we have to keep it going.
Matt: Having been a vocal critic of Gray earlier in his reign, I am now eating humble pie. Yet again, we look like we have got grit throughout and are playing for each other, the attackers are converting chances and defenders are putting in a shift. A well-deserved victory for us which cements my opinion that we clearly are not a relegation team.
Aidan: Controlled the game and actually ran the show, which to do at Pittodrie is not an easy thing. After 90 minutes it would be very difficult to say that Hibs did not deserve the win after the endeavour put in. Massive confidence boost ahead of Boxing Day at Tynecastle.
Kenny: This was the best performance of the season so far. Confidence is growing now and we are playing some really good football. We still need to strengthen the team in the window and I hope Gray is allowed to bring in the players he wants and isn't been told by the Black Knight Group what players he's getting. Great performance.
Sandy: The winning mentality is back for Hibs, every player in green and white on that park showed passion, determination, and some good football. Can't ask for more than that, three goals a game becoming habitual so thanks and Merry Christmas to Sir David and the team.
Image source, SNSAberdeen lost after scoring the opening goal in the Premiership for the first time since 2 March 2024 against St Mirren (16 games without defeat).
Hibernian have won eight points from losing positions in the Premiership this season, only Dundee (nine) and Kilmarnock (12) have recovered more.
Aberdeen have scored in 16 of their 17 games, more often than any other team in the Premiership this season.
Nicky Cadden has scored four goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), more than any other Hibernian player.
Aberdeen have slipped out of the Scottish Premiership's top two as their winless run stretched to a sixth game with a 3-1 defeat by Hibernian at Pittodrie.
Topi Keskinen had given the hosts the lead early on when he found himself in acres of space and he fired beyond Jordan Smith into the bottom corner of the Hibs goal.
But the revived visitors - who have now won three of their last four games - levelled soon afterwards after a horror mistake from Slobodan Rubezic.
The Aberdeen defender tried to clear but completely missed the ball, allowing Martin Boyle to run into the box and square for Elie Youan to finish.
Keskinen continued to cause problems and hit a post with his strike from outside of the box.
But it was Hibs who would take the lead when Boyle cut the ball back to Nicky Cadden, who smashed his first time effort into the back of the Aberdeen net.
Jimmy Thelin's side started the second half brightly and forced Jordan Smith into two good saves in the opening stages. But again though it was Hibs who made the most of their opportunities.
Nectar Triantis robbed Sivert Nielsen of the ball in the Aberdeen half and laid it off to Boyle, who slipped in a composed finish to move Hibs further away from the bottom of the division.
Hibs fans, did you make the trip to Pittodrie or were you following the action from home? Either way we want your views on the game. Have your say, external.
Image source, SNSHibernian's Martin Boyle tells BBC Scotland: "I enjoyed that.
"I enjoyed the performance, we really stuck in there at times. We showed good character, stuck in there and managed to get the result.
"We all stuck together and got the three points.
"The first part of the season it was not ideal, we were leaking goals. Hopefully we've plugged that for now and we're scoring goals at the other end.
"I'm happy to contribute, I always give my all for this club and hopefully that can continue.
"I felt fresh. Thankfully the manager picked me, I've been working hard and hopefully I can keep that up.
"I just need to keep working hard. I was out of the team, I had to be patient. I've still got belief in myself that I can be the player everyone thinks I am.
"When you've got that jersey you want to keep it and hopefully I've done that."
'We put it all together but still work to do' - Gray
Hibernian head coach David Gray: "I'm delighted, especially with the reaction to going a goal down.
"We probably got a bit of luck when Aberdeen hit the post but from that moment I thought we controlled the game, created numerous big chances and probably played the conditions slightly better.
"The way we played, the way we set out and worked in the end - credit to the players.
"The character has been asked of this group quite a lot and during difficult times we've let ourselves down but we've never shied away from it. The players have taken responsibility and you saw that today. The big thing is the confidence it builds. There's always been the belief that we can turn thing around.
"Martin Boyle was excellent, he contributed to every goal. He's had to be patient, keep working hard but he's responded the way you want a player to react. He's never let his head go down and as you saw today he's very effective at this level.
"We're certainly heading in the right direction. I made the players aware of a stat which was that we hadn't won back to back league games since December 2023 which clearly isn't good enough for this football club. But it gives players the opportunity to change history.
"The confidence is building, the players can take belief from that but the work doesn't stop here."
Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland
Image source, SNSDavid Gray said before the game that the last time they faced Aberdeen felt like a "turning point" for his team.
Since that 3-3 draw last month, Hibs have beaten Motherwell 3-0, County 3-1 and now they've put three past second-placed Aberdeen.
They sit eighth in the Scottish Premiership, only one place behind Dundee, despite being rock bottom not so long ago.
The main thing for them at Pittodrie was their ability to capitalise on the opportunities they created.
The heads didn't go down after Aberdeen's opener, took advantage of a mistake to get back level, and continued to make the most of defensive frailties from the hosts.
Next up, it's a huge Edinburgh derby on Boxing Day against a struggling Hearts.
Image source, SNSMartin Boyle looked back to his very best at Pittodrie. He was involved in all three of Hibs' goals, setting up the first two and netting the third himself.
Image source, SNSAberdeen forward Vicente Besuijen will be out for four months after surgery to correct a knee issue while defender Jack Milne is sidelined for 12 weeks following an ankle operation.
Dimitar Mitov (hamstring) and Pape Habib Gueye (quad) remain out.
Hibs are still without Mykola Kuharevich, Rudi Molitnikov (both groin), Marvin Ekpiteta (thigh) and Kieron Bowie (hamstring).
Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Image source, SNSDavid Gray is refusing to be sidetracked by the looming Edinburgh derby as Hibs bid to win successive league games for the first time in 2024.
Having risen from bottom spot to ninth with victory over Ross County last weekend, Gray wants his side to continue their recement momentum in Saturday's trip to Aberdeen before heading to Tynecastle on Boxing Day.
"I am not looking past Saturday," he said. "I know that's a politician's answer but my full focus is on Aberdeen and ensuring we have the mentality to go up there and win the game. There is nothing else on my mind other than that.
"Once that game is done we will take the learnings from it and quickly move to the derby.
"As a player and fans it's the one that everyone talks about but my focus at the moment is all about Aberdeen."
Hibs have won two of their three outings since the "turning point" of their rollercoaster 3-3 home draw with Aberdeen last month in which they netted twice in stoppage time.
"It was probably a better game for the neutrals than it was for the two coaches, especially at the end," said Gray.
"I have spoken about that being a potential turning point in our season and how we have improved especially our results since then.
"We know it will be a tough test going up there, but Aberdeen will also be aware of the challenges we will present them.
"We go in with confidence on the back of a win. We know we can still improve because we showed a different way to win a game last week, which is something we haven't been able to do this season, so we need to build on that."
Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Image source, SNSHibernian head coach David Gray has been speaking to the media before his side's Scottish Premiership match against Aberdeen.
Gray says striker Dwight Gayle - who intends to retire at the end of the season - has been a "model professional" since joining Hibs.
He adds: "We are never going to be able to play him 90 minutes every week. He knew that and we knew that when we signed him. He is already a massive influence in the dressing room in the way he trains and he is a character."
Gray cited the draw with Aberdeen a couple of weeks ago as a "turning point" in the season so far.
However, he is "seeking more consistency" in the second half of the campaign as Hibs look to add distance between themselves and the relegation zone.
With the Edinburgh derby looming on Boxing Day, Gray is fully focused on Aberdeen and "ensuring we have the mentality to go up there and win the game".
There is no fresh injury concerns for the Pittodrie trip. Striker Mykola Kuharevich could be fit to face Hearts.
Image source, SNSAberdeen have only won one of their last seven league meetings with Hibs (D3 L3), a 4-0 away win in May last season.
Hibs have scored 2+ goals in five of their last seven league games against Aberdeen (15 total), but have also shipped 2+ in each of their last three (9 total).
After winning 10 of their first 11 league games this season (D1), Aberdeen are since winless in five (D3 L2) – the longest ongoing run without a win by any side in the Scottish Premiership.
Hibs have won two of their last three league games (L1), as many as their previous 18 beforehand (W2 D7 L9). Hibs are looking to win back-to-back Scottish Premiership fixtures for the first time since December 2023 (3 in a row).
Leighton Clarkson has scored in his last two league starts for Aberdeen, and is the only player to register both 10+ goals (10) and 10+ assists (11) for the club in the Scottish Premiership since his debut in August 2022.
