HIbernian have aimed a couple of long balls in the direction of Daryl Horgan but nothing doing in terms of an effort on target.

Allan Preston
BBC Scotland summariser on Sportsound

Allan Preston
BBC Scotland summariser on Sportsound

Hearts are warming to the task in the spring sunshine. Michael Smith whips a dangerous cross int the box which Uche Ikpeazu gets a touch to but can't get a shot away.

The ball falls kindly to Jake Mulraney but he loses his footing at the crucial moment and the chance is lost.

The visitors will rely on Hearts striker Uche Ikpeazu to cause Hibs problems this afternoon, The forward shows strength on the ball before earning a throw-in under the close attention of two Hibs defenders.

Hibs, unbeaten in the Premiership under Paul Heckingbottom, pin their ears back and attack from the off. A long ball, however, fails to seriously trouble the Hearts defence.

We're under way in the Edinburgh derby!

Easter Road rises as one as a mark of respect for the late Lisbon Lion Billy McNeill, who died last week aged 79.

Image source, SNS

Hibs head coach Paul Heckingbottom tells Sportsound there is no need to change his line-up from the side that drew with Celtic last week.

"From a mentality point of view the players have made it difficult for any other boys to come in.

"We’ve earned everything we have had so far and we’ll approach this game with the same intensity.

"This derby takes care of itself. Our approach will be the same as every game. I’m hoping the full house will create a rocket of an atmosphere."

Both sides come down the tunnel and out onto the pitch at a sun-kissed Easter Road. The Scottish capital is crackling to the sound of the Edinburgh derby.

Hearts manager Craig Levein tells BBC Scotland's Sportsound he has faith in Scotland Under-17 captain Connor Smith, who makes his first start.

"I wasn't particularly happy with our performance last week and it was right to shake things up," he says.

"I am putting Connor Smith in the side today because I think it gives us a better chance to win.

"The way we want to play is with athleticism and his technical ability will be an asset today."

tom and 20 others: A chance for sixth place Hearts Of Midtable to move up to sixth place.

Billy Dodds
Former Scotland striker on Sportsound

Hearts manager Craig Levein makes four changes from last weekend's disappointing 3-1 defeat at home to Rangers.

Connor Smith is handed his first Hearts start at the age of 17, the midfielder's only previous appearance having come as a substitute almost a year ago against Kilmarnock.

Harry Cochrane, who is the same age, is much more experienced but has been used sparingly this season. However, the midfielder impressed as a substitute last weekend.

Image source, SNS

Attacking midfielder Sean Clare, who missed out with illness against Rangers, and on-loan Leeds United centre-half Conor Shaughnessy come back into the side.

Midfielders Olly Lee and Oliver Bozanic drop to the bench, while wide man Bobby Burns and striker Craig Wighton are missing from the match-day squad.

The last time the sides met in an Edinburgh derby at Easter Road? Hearts earned bragging rights in December with a 1-0 victory when Olly Lee fired a spectacular winner.

Hearts became the first away side to win an Edinburgh derby in 15 attempts.

Image source, SNS

Earlier this month, Hibs exacted revenge as they came from behind to win 2-1 at Tynecastle, courtesy of a Daryl Horgan double.

Image source, SNS

Hearts manager Craig Levein: "Sometimes in this fixture there's a sustained period of dominance. That isn't the case at the moment.

"So, this game will come down to individuals, one moment of quality, one mistake... that's how sometimes these games go."

Image source, Reuters

Hibs head coach Paul Heckingbottom not surprisingly sticks with the starting line-up that played out a goalless draw at home to Celtic last weekend to stretch their unbeaten run to six games.

It means a second week on the bench for Ryan Gauld after the on-loan Sporting Lisbon midfielder's return from injury.

Image source, SNS

Some Edinburgh derby stats for you to chew over alongside your Sunday fry-up:

• Hibernian are seeking back-to-back top-flight wins over Hearts for the first time since May 2009
• Hearts, 1-0 winners in their last league visit to Easter Road in December 2018, have not won back-to-back trips there in the top flight since November 2010
• Hibs are unbeaten under new head coach Paul Heckingbottom in the league (P9 W6 D3 L0)
• Hearts have lost all three of their league games this April - they last lost four league matches in a single calendar month in May 2017

Image source, SNS