Chris McLaughlin
BBC Sport Scotland at Tynecastle

"Not a cloud in the sky here in the capital and Tyncastle is filling up nicely. It's been a while since this fixture lived up to the hype but both managers told me pre-match that they sense the usual crackle of excitement that precedes kick off. Ronny Deila shrugged off criticism of his side's recent performances and questions about his abilities as Celtic boss. Robbie Neilson says it's a day for big characters to rise to the occasion."

Referee Willie Collum made the headlines again yesterday with Derek McInnes and John Hughes criticising his performance at Pittodrie.

He's off to Euro 2016 and that bemuses BBC Sportsound pundit Michael Stewart, who says with typical bluntness: "He's not the best referee in Scotland, far from it."

Today's man in the middle is Steven McLean...

A quick recap on yesterday's Premiership action. 

Aberdeen came from 2-0 down to draw at home with Inverness. A win would have taken them above Celtic.

Liam Boyce keeps banging them in for Ross County, netting his second hat-trick of the season in a 5-2 win over Dundee, while Kilmarnock picked up vital points in a 1-0 success at Hamilton.

The games at Firhill and Tannadice were postponed after the heavy rain.

Hearts are looking to avoid going five games without a win after three draws and a defeat as they remain third in the Premiership - 10 points behind Celtic and Aberdeen but having played two games fewer than the Dons.

This time last year, Robbie Neilson's men picked up a 1-0 win at Livingston as they steamrollered their way to the Championship title.

Jambos must be delighted with the recovery from the horrible mess of administration in 2013 and few would bet against them staying in the top three.

Celtic have scored 26 goals in those seven wins but that last success was hard-earned in a scrappy game, littered with niggling fouls, with play rarely flowing for more than a few minutes at a time.

The first league game between the sides this season ended goalless at Celtic Park, with the hosts wasting a load of first-half chances but needing Efe Ambrose to sacrifice himself to a late red card to stop Sam Walker racing clear on goal.  

Celtic were last in the west side of Edinburgh back in late October, with goals from Leigh Griffiths and Tom Rogic giving them a 2-1 League Cup victory.

That was a seventh successive win for the Scottish champions at Tynecastle.

Image source, SNS

Celtic boss Ronny Deila explains that Kris Commons is missing after picking up a knock to his foot in training. On top-scorer Leigh Griffiths, he tells BBC Radio Scotland listeners the striker "is not far away" from a return.

Hearts are without suspended striker Juanma Delgado, following his foolish head-butt at St Johnstone, so Gavin Reilly comes in for a rare start.

Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths is still missing with a calf problem, so Nadir Ciftci continues to lead the line. The visitors make two midfield changes as Stuart Armstrong and Stefan Johansen come in for James Forrest and Kris Commons.

Hearts: Alexander, Paterson, Augustyn, Rossi, Oshaniwa, Buaben, Gomis, Djoum, Nicholson, Reilly, Sow.

Subs: Hamilton, Ozturk, McGhee, Pallardo, Swanson, King, Zanatta

Celtic:  Gordon; Lustig, Boyata, Simunovic, Tierney; Bitton, Johansen; McGregor, Rogic, Armstrong; Ciftci. 

Subs: Bailly, Izaguirre, Ambrose, Allan, Mackay-Steven, Cole, Forrest.

Aberdeen wasted their chance to go top of the Premiership yesterday and that allows Celtic the opportunity to open up a lead at Tynecastle this afternoon.

However, Hearts will be fired up for this festive fixture in front of a full-house and this season's previous meetings have been close run.

Hearts v Celtic is usually a rousing occasion and this could be a real cracker...