Hearts head coach Ian Cathro would not be drawn on being linked with Greece midfielder Alexandros Tziolis, the 31-year-old who is a free agent after parting company with the Greek Super League side PAOK Salonika. 

"We've got some players still recovering from the last few games, but we have a strong team to put out today," he told BBC Radio Scotland.

"We need to add more options and give ourselves the right balance for the rest of the season.

"We continue to do work on a number of players in positions we think important to us.

"We respect the challenge today is a bit greater and a bit glossier, but we will take up that challenge and go toe-to-toe and see where we are at the end of the game."

Image source, Getty Images

Winger Moha El Ouriachi Choulay signed for Hearts from Stoke City last night to become Ian Cathro sixth signing since taking over as head coach.

The 21-year-old, capped at Under-23 level by Morocco, has been unable to break into the English Premier League outfit's first team since arriving from Barcelona in 2015 but made six appearances on loan to League One outfit Shrewsbury Town earlier this season.

He is named on the bench against Celtic along with Friday's new recruit - French striker Dylan Bikey, the 21-year-old coming straight from playing as an amateur for League Two outfit Stirling Albion, albeit scoring nine goals in nine games.

Defenders Andraz Struna, Lennard Sowah and Aaron Hughes and midfielder Malaury Martin have already had a couple of outings since they arrived at Tynecastle.

Image source, Rex Features

Celtic: Gordon, Gamboa, Simunovic, Boyata, Tierney, Bitton, Brown, Armstrong, Roberts, Forrest, Sinclair.

Substitutes: DeVries, Mackay-Steven, Lustig, Sviatchenko, McGregor, Henderson, Aitchison.

Hearts: Hamilton, Smith, Souttar, Hughes, Sowah, Kitchen, Cowie, Martin, Nicholson, Walker, Johnsen.

Substitutes: Noring, Beith, Zanatta, Chouly, Bikey, Sammon, Oshinawa

Some big teams news for Celtic. No sign of strikers Moussa Dembele or Leigh Griffiths.

Full line-ups to follow shortly.

Image source, SNS

Here's how the Celtic class of 2016-17 compares to the all-conquering side of 1966-67.

Brendan Rodgers' team has won more games, but Jock Stein's men scored a lot more goals.

2016-17: Played: 26; Won; 25; Drawn: 1; Lost: 0; For: 67; Against: 14.   

1966-67: Played: 26; Won: 23; Drawn: 3; Lost: 0; For: 91: Against: 26.

Dundee United ended Celtic's unbeaten start at Tannadice on 31 December 1966, winning 3-2.

Image source, Rex Features

We're maybe getting ahead of ourselves, but Celtic and Rangers have each gone unbeaten once in a league season to clinch the title. Those achievements came in the 19th Century, when the old Division One was played over 18 games.

It's 38 games these days, with Celtic 19 points clear at the top after 21 matches.

Celtic captain Scott Brown reached a significant landmark of his own on Wednesday as he made his 400th club appearance against St Johnstone. Will the Scotland midfielder go down as a club legend?

We won't ask you how the present side compares to the one that lifted the European Cup as I am sure few would put them in the same league. A better debate might be whether any of the present Celtic side would have made the Lisbon Lions line-up.

Give us your thoughts #bbcsportscot or on the BBC Sport Scotland Facebook page.

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Of course, the Celtic manager will no doubt insist that a win that would restore their 22-point lead over Rangers, as the Hoops seek a sixth consecutive Scottish title, is more important than any unbeaten records.

Hearts' challenge to finish second, meanwhile, has fallen away in recent weeks - so much so that they have been caught by St Johnstone, although the Edinburgh outfit remain fourth thanks to a superior goal difference, and are nine points adrift of Aberdeen.

Another week, will it be another landmark for Brendan Rodgers' all-conquering Celtic side?

The Glasgow outfit will better their club record run of 26 domestic games unbeaten from the start of the season should they avoid defeat today at home to Hearts, with kick-off an hour away.

They have already equalled the benchmark set by what most would agree was a more celebrated line-up - the Lisbon Lions who that season became the first British club to lift the European Cup.

Image source, SNS