Hearts manager Robbie Neilson tells Sportsound: "We felt that the boys did really well [against Aberdeen]. To win 5-0 against a very good team, you should keep it the same.

"You can never tell in a derby. It's hot and cold. We know when Hibs are hot, they're a good team with good players. Hopefully we can catch them on a cold day. It's the biggest game we've played this season so far.

"We won convincingly at home a few weeks ago, but we only had a few weeks to celebrate and enjoy it because we knew we had this game round the corner.

[On touchline ban] "I've done it a few times, it's not a huge issue for me. I've got a great staff here, Lee and Gordon, and leaders on the pitch as well. The players know what they need to do. They did it a couple of weeks ago against Hibs at home.

[On winless record at Easter Road] "There's a first time for everything."

Hibernian manager Lee Johnson tells Sportsound: "James Jeggo is an experienced player. He was a player I looked at a few years ago when I was at Bristol City.

"Our midfield was light and we felt we just needed to put a bit of football nous in there. He's very good at getting his foot in. He trained yesterday. We've got a flexibility about us at the moment.

"The performance leads to the win. We're looking for those little factors that can be the difference. Hearts have been good. They're established. This is a one-off game and we are improving all the time.

"It's a big test for us today but one that we're absolutely up for and the dream is to listen to that song, Sunshine on Leith, at the end of this game."

Image source, SNS

Ken Buchanan, former world lightweight champion, is out on the Easter Road pitch lapping up the adulation from fans in all corners of the stadium.

The 77-year-old boxing legend is looking very dapper in a black fedora.

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland at Easter Road

A timely update on the future of Ryan Porteous...

Watford are keen on the centre-half and could make their move in the next few days.

Blackburn Rovers already have a bid in.

Could this be the last time we see Ryan Porteous in a Hibs shirt?

The 23-year-old defender is out of contract in the summer and the club are anxious to get some kind of fee this month.

He's never been on the winning side in a derby (three draws, three defeats) and would love to sign off on a high if he does move on shortly.

He was an unused sub in the two home victories in 2017-18 and missed two away wins in 2019 through injury.

Image source, SNS

Neil McCann
Former Rangers winger on BBC Sportsound

I laugh when people say this - including managers - 'form goes out the window'.

Form is very relevant in this fixture. If someone is coming in on a high, you get a buzz and an adrenaline rush. If Hearts puncture Hibs early, this place will flatten out very quickly. They'll turn on Lee Johnson and Hibs, and that'll energise Hearts even more.

We're in for a cracking cup tie.

Hibs have their own in-form striker, with Kevin Nisbet making up for lost time after nine months out with an ACL injury.

The 25-year-old has hit seven goals in six games since making his return after the World Cup break, with five of those coming in his last two outings.

Image source, SNS

Lawrence Shankland has been an inspired signing for Hearts.

The 27-year-old has notched 19 times since moving to Tynecastle in the summer.

No Hearts players has hit the 20 mark since wee John Robertson in the 1991-92 season.

"It would be great to get it in any game, but to get it in an Edinburgh derby in the Scottish Cup would be brilliant,” he said earlier in the week. "My first competitive goal for Hearts was at Easter Road so it would be nice to get my 20th there."

Image source, SNS

Neil McCann
Former Hearts winger on BBC Sportsound

When you're demolishing Aberdeen - who many people would have said are rivals for third - I don't think there's any requirement to change it.

They've got a goal machine up top, as long as they keep supplying him. Josh Ginnelly has been really impressive of late. He's got real pace and he can compliment a clever footballer like Lawrence Shankland.

John Collins
Former Hibs manager on BBC Sportsound

Image source, SNS

New Hibs signing James Jeggo adds to the burgeoning number of Australians playing in Edinburgh.

He joins Lewis Miller and the injured Martin Boyle in the home squad, although Boyle still has some work to do on the accent.

Hearts snapped up Garang Kuol on loan from Newcastle this month and he has compatriots Kye Rowles, Cammy Devlin and Nathaniel Atkinson for company.

Jeggo v Devlin could be a feisty contest in the middle of the park.

It's been a bumpy ride for Lee Johnson since he arrived at Easter Road in the summer. A win today would go a long way to winning fans over.

The former Sunderland and Bristol City boss certainly doesn't lack in self-confidence, but he must realise this is a huge match for him.

Image source, SNS

Hearts manager Robbie Neilson will have to watch from the main stand after picking up a two-match ban with a red card in his team’s 1-0 victory over St Mirren on 13 January.

He will be hoping the change of vantage will bring him a first win at Easter Road, something I'm told eluded him as a player in maroon too.

Image source, SNS

The Sportsound team are on air now and you can listen in to radio coverage of the match using the tab at the top of the page.

Hearts were Scottish Cup runners-up last season, losing out to Rangers in extra time.

They have actually been beaten finalists in three of the last four campaigns, which has got to sting a bit.

Hearts last lifted the famous old trophy in 2012. Do I really have to remind you who they beat that day?

Hibs ended their 114-year to be reunited with the Scottish Cup in 2016, beating Hearts in an Easter Road replay along the way after coming back from 2-0 down at Tynecastle.

Remember, no replays these days, so we'll get a winner one way or another today.

Hearts will be in buoyant mood as Wednesday’s demolition of Aberdeen made it eight games in a row undefeated and took them seven points clear in the battle for third place.

Hibs have at least stopped the rot with a win and a draw against Motherwell and Dundee United after a horrible run of nine defeats in 11 league outings.

Without playing during the week, they nudged into the top six.

Absolutely no surprise to see Hearts going with the same XI that thrashed Aberdeen 5-0 during the week.

Australian teenager Garang Kuol, on loan from Newcastle, could feature from the bench after recovering from illness.

Image source, SNS

Hibs hand a debut to James Jeggo, who only signed yesterday. The Australian international is pitched straight into midfield with Joe Newell suspended and Kyle Magennis injured.

Chris Cadden returns from a knock to take his place at right-back and Marijan Cabraja is restored at left-back, allowing stalwart Lewis Stevenson to move into the engine room, while Will Fish drops to the bench.

Youngsters Oscar MacIntyre and Ethan Laidlaw are among the replacements.

Image source, SNS

Hearts have not lost to Hibs since Boxing Day 2019, that's a run of eight games, which includes two Scottish Cup semi-final victories.

This season, Hibs grabbed a late equaliser through Martin Boyle at Easter Road in early August, while the New Year fixture at Tynecastle ended 3-0 in favour of the Jambos.