Chaos inside the Hibs penalty box from a low Barrie McKay pass.

Lawrence Shankland can't the ball under control at his feet and the hosts scramble it clear.

It's Hibs' turn to miss a good opportunity.

Paul Hanlon nods it into the path of Joe Newell just inside the penalty box, but the midfielder volleys it wastefully a couple of yards over the bar.

Michael Stewart
Former Hearts and Hibs midfielder on BBC Sportsound

He should have done better.

It's good play from Sibbick first of all and Allan Forrest is stepping on a perfect cut-back from Atkinson. He's got the goal at his mercy but misses the target.

A big chance for Hearts on the break.

Nathaniel Atkinson turns the ball back into the path of Alan Forrest, but the winger side-foots low past the far post from 15 yards.

The tackles are flying in and, when Stephen Kingsley concedes a needless free kick, Joe Newell curls a free-kick into the Hearts penalty box that evades everyone at the back post and the visitors can breath again.

Ouch!

On-loan Burnley full-back CJ Egan-Riley crashes into Barrie McKay, sending the Hearts winger flying and is shown an early yellow card.

It's pretty cagey stuff at the moment. But it's Hibs are on the front foot in the early stages.

Nathaniel Atkinson, who had lost his place in Hearts' defence after his return from the World Cup finals in Australia, replaces the injured Michael Smith in the visiting defence.

Hearts right-back Michael Smith is down injured having stretched to reach a through ball and it looks like the veteran's game is over already.

It comes seconds after pundit Michael Stewart was saying that Hibs should target Smith as "his legs have gone". How prophetic.

Image source, SNS

Hibs get the game going in their traditional green, Hearts in their usual maroon.

Which colour will prevail? Thumbs up below if you think it will be a home win, thumbs down for an away victory.

Hearts interim manager Steven Naismith tells Sportsound: "The good thing for me personally is that I've had the full week to prepare and we've had a good week's work.

"The first change we need to make is to start enjoying playing football. That's been the noticeable thing over the last five or six weeks - it all became a bit tense and a bit forced.

"We've got great players here and we need to use that to our advantage. I hope from now to the end of the season people will see attributes in the team that they saw in me as a player.

"We'll go into every game trying to win. If we win today, it makes my job next week a lot easier. I'm confident that we'll put on a performance that the Hearts fans will be happy with and they see that the hard work and the basics are there."

Here come the teams into the glorious sunshine at Easter Road.

Perfect conditions for a big occasion...

Michael Stewart
Former Hibs and Hearts midfielder on BBC Sportsound

This is a great opportunity for Steven Naismith to put his name forward and take over what he thinks is the best Hearts squad since he joined the club.

The last month or two, things have not been good, but the last two years have been pretty good for Hearts.

Hibs manager Lee Johnson tells Sportsound "it's not a risk" to start Paul Hanlon in defence after injury "because he's declared himself fit".

"Last week, we saw a little bit of naivity in the goals we conceded," he says. "I think you need derby experience in a game like this; he's trained the last couple of games and he's good to go.

"We picked a team to battle, to control the middle of the pitch. It's a perfect day for football and it's a wonderful opportunity for us.

"It's about winning your individual duels and then using the ball wisely. I've got full confidence in the boys that they're going to turn up today.

"Obviously top six and Europe is what we want to achieve, but at this moment in time, I'm only thinking about the start of the game."

Leanne Crichton
Ex-Scotland international on BBC Radio Scotland

I don't Lee Johnson knows who is best XI are even when they are all fit and I don't think he knows what he's trying to achieve at Hibs.

John Hughes
Former Hibernian manager on Sportsound

If you look at the players Hibs have lost to injury, they are doing okay.

Lee Johnson's had a tough hand there, but it's a must-win today.

Scotland squad goalkeeper Zander Clark returns to Hearts' starting line-up following injury and takes the place of Ross Stewart.

Tony Sibbick is also restored to central defence in place of on-loan Bournemouth man James Hill, while winger Barrie McKay comes starts in place of Robert Snodgrass after the former Scotland midfielder was told he was not needed by new caretaker boss Steven Naismith.

Image source, SNS

So who can rouse themselves best after meek defeats - Hearts at home to top-six rivals St Mirren and Hibs away to bottom side Dundee United - that dropped the Tynecastle outfit to fourth and today's hosts to sixth?

The visitors head across the capital to Leith with history on their side at least having not lost in nine derbies since December 2019, winning the latest two 3-0, and being unbeaten in seven visits to Easter Road since March 2018.

Hibs manager Lee Johnson makes three changes from the side that so disappointed against Dundee United last weekend.

In come experienced defenders Paul Hanlon and Lewis Stevenson, who have returned from injury, while Jake Doyle-Hayes replaces Ross Campbell in midfield.

Full-back Marijan Cabraja and striker Harry McKirdy are the others dropping to the bench.

Image source, SNS