Brian McLauchlin
BBC Scotland at Tynecastle

Edinburgh derbies are always interesting matches for a variety of reasons. This time around for Hearts it’s all about ensuring Saturday's thumping at Ibrox was a one off and maintaining their excellent Premiership campaign.

For Hibernian fans they will come to Tynecastle with a renewed belief after the weekend win against Dundee giving Nick Montgomery's team their first league win in 2024.

Bragging rights are always up for grabs and for the fans, players and everyone associated with both clubs this is the most important game of the campaign.

Let battle commence!

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St Johnstone manager Craig Levein tells BBC Scotland: "I didn't think we showed enough determination, athleticism, or energy [last weekend]. We made changes to address that and try to dominate the game and create chances.

"That's the first time since I've been here that I've had to raise my voice and get angry about what happened on the field. Hopefully we can get a reaction. Neil's done the same thing with his group, so it might be a fight tonight, rather than a game of football.

[On re-uniting with Warnock] "I said 'who'd have thought we'd meet here. It's good to see him, he's a remarkable man and very funny."

[On Adama Sidibeh] "He's feeling fine, but we've got to go through the medical stuff to make sure he can come back to training and playing."

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Aberdeen interim manager Neil Warnock tells BBC Scotland: "It's just to freshen things up. After Saturday, I could've left anyone out, couldn't I? I want to see young Jack (Milne) play, he's done well in training.

"We've got to work hard tonight, get the crowd going in the right way. It would be nice to score first, I've not done that since I've come here.

"We just want to try something else to get something different to what we've had in the last few games.

"It is tough, it's no good saying it isn't. But they're a good group. I've never worked as hard, but I need to come up with a winning formula.

[On re-uniting with Craig Levein] "I sent him a message when he went back in, saying well done. I didn't know I'd be playing against him!"

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Rangers manager Philippe Clement tells BBC Radio Scotland: "Borna Barisic is coming back from injury and we need rotation in that position. Ridvan Yilmaz cannot play every three days and Borna did really good things before.

"With Fabio Silva and Cyriel Dessers it’s the same, it’s impossible for a striker to be really sharp and active for the team for 90 minutes, three games a week. And the same with Ross McCausland. Oscar Cortes will not play 90 minutes, so I’ll make the rotation during the game.

"Playing on this kind of pitch we need adaptation and we don’t have adaptation – only the warm-up. We need to be ready from the first minute.

"Today is a really big test - if we can win this, the team makes another big statement."

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Dundee manager Tony Docherty tells BBC Scotland: "I've got a squad and I want to use the squad. Tonight I've selected a team with a wealth of experience and real legs in the middle of the park.

"We need a 90-minute performance and that's reflected in the team and the bench that I've got.

"These boys have been brilliant for me all season. We've got to remember this is a newly promoted team. All we want to do is improve.

"Tonight it's about getting the balance right, because Celtic are a very good team. I've got huge confidence and belief in these players."

Hibernian boss Nick Montgomery says he named an unchanged side because "the performance at the weekend was very good" in their win over Dundee.

"We've got a really strong bench tonight as well," he adds on BBC Sportsound.

"It's a big game for us, big game for them, and we'll do everything we can to get a result.

"We're building a bit of momentum now, we know we need to win games between now and the end of the season."

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Hearts head coach Steven Naismith tells BBC Scotland: "We're at that end of the season, points matter. It's an entertaining night.

"We've picked a team we think will go and win the game. I've shown consistently I'll change the team because we have a good squad. We're all in it together.

"It's going to be lively, the atmosphere will be incredible. It's then about having that clear mind about what we want to do. It's important we show the quality we have done at times this season."

Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes tells BBC Radio Scotland: "I went with the same team because the last two performances were different in the sense we got a point at Celtic Park by doing a lot of things right and had a very strong performance throughout against Aberdeen.

"We wanted to go with two strikers at home. We understand it’s tough and there is sometimes a trade-off, but I just wanted us to be us. On Saturday, we had that identity, two wingers, two centre forwards on top of their game.

"It wouldn't be the biggest shock for us to get a result tonight and there needs to be Kilmarnock players believing that's what we're doing.

"It's important we manage the game, our distances our good and our work out of possession will be key. But we have to show there's a punch in us to cause Rangers problems."

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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers is asked about starting Adam Idah ahead of Kyogo, telling BBC Scotland: "It's freshening up the team in a key area.

"It's not so much about the starting XI, it's the finishing XI, and we saw that at the weekend.

"It's great when players come in and perform to the level you want, but it's also about the game. I don't think it will be too dissimilar [to the Motherwell game] - I think Dundee will be a bit deeper.

"Tony (Docherty) has done fantastic this season. They will be compact, be tight, make it difficult, and they have got some really good players.

"We have to show our physicality from the first whistle, and for us it's about knocking on the door, creating opportunities, and being clinical."

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David Martindale makes three changes to the side that lost 3-2 to Ross County.

Bruce Anderson, who was subbed on at the weekend, is in from the start. Daniel MacKay and Sean Kelly also return to the starting XI. Stephen Kelly, Mo Sangare and Andrew Shinnie all drop to the bench.

Stuart Kettlewell has made a double change from the 3-1 defeat to Celtic. Sam Nicholson bags his first start in claret and amber while Stephen O'Donnell returns to the starting line-up. Georgie Gent and Jack Vale make way.

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Derek McInnes names an unchanged Kilmarnock side for the visit of Premiership leaders Rangers as they look to extend their unbeaten home run to nine matches.

Rangers boss Philippe Clement makes three changes after his side dismantled Hearts at Ibrox.

Fabio Silva comes in for Cyriel Dessers, with Borna Barisic preferred to Ridvan Yilmaz and Ross McCausland coming in for Dujon Sterling.

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Neil Warnock wasn't a happy man after Aberdeen's dismal display against Kilmarnock at the weekend and subsequently makes four changes.

Jack Milne, Jonny Hayes, Angus MacDonald and Leighton Clarkson all come into the starting XI, with Nicky Devlin, Jack MacKenzie, Duk and Dante Polvara named on the bench.

It looks like a change of shape for St Johnstone, with Craig Levein picking a 4-3-3. That results in five Saints changes, with Dave Keltjens, Ryan McGowan, Sven Sprangler, Diallang Jaiyesimi and Benjamin Kimpioka all coming in.

Tony Gallacher, Andy Considine, Graham Carey, and Kerr Smith all drop to the bench, with Adama Sidibeh still out with a head knock.

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Three changes for Hearts following the thrashing they suffered at Ibrox.

The Tynecastle side switch to a back four as centre-back Kye Rowles drops to the bench along with midfield duo Beni Baningime and Jorge Grant.

In come Scott Fraser, Alan Forrest and Cammy Devlin, who makes his first start since November.

Edinburgh rivals Hibs, meanwhile, are unchanged after their 2-1 win over Dundee on Saturday.

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Brendan Rodgers has made three changes to the Celtic side that beat Motherwell 3-1 on Sunday.

Cameron Carter-Vickers returns to the starting XI, replacing the injured Maik Nawrocki at centre-half, while Yang Hyun-Jun comes in for Nicolas Kuhn and Adam Idah is preferred up front to Kyogo after his double from the bench at Fir Park.

For visitors Dundee, Tony Docherty makes five changes from the defeat at Easter Road and has also switched to a back five.

Ricki Lamie and Antonio Portales start in defence, Malachi Boateng and Finlay Robertson come into midfield and Curtis Main starts up front.

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Allan Preston
Former Hearts midfielder on BBC Sportsound

I think it could be the battle of the right-backs. Nathan Atkinson wasn't great at Ibrox and I'm not so keen on Lewis Miller either. I think Hearts can get at him, but Hibs can also get at Atkinson.

Livingston: George, Carson, Obileye, Anderson, MacKay, Brandon, Holt, Nouble, Nottingham, Kelly, Yengi.

Substitutes: McGovern, Montano, Devlin, Kelly, Bradley, Sangare, Shinnie, Guthrie, Lawal.

Motherwell: Kelly, O'Donnell, McGinn, Mugabi, Casey, Devine, Zdravkovski, Miller, Spittal, Nicholson, Bair.

Substitutes: Oxborough, Gent, Obika, Shaw, Blaney, Vale, Elliot, Ferrie, Wells.

It's Neil Warnock v Craig Levein - the oldest managers in the league - but it's not the first time these two have crossed paths.

In Levein's career a podcast host, sitting alongside Amy Irons on Sacked in the Morning, 'the man of many retirements' popped on for a chat in November.

Among many other things, Warnock talks chiropody and how he came close to managing Heart of Midlothian.

Listen to the full episode here.

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Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland at Pittodrie

Just a few weeks ago there was the discussion about whether Aberdeen can catch Hearts for third? Then it was can they make fourth? Now the narrative has changed to can they somehow find a way of hauling themselves into the top six?

Neil Warnock is waiting for a first league win and the interim manager has questioned the leadership and physicality in the group he inherited.

So you start to see why tonight is so important for the home side.

On a run of four successive losses, St Johnstone are also out of sorts and, like the hosts, have mustered just one league win so far in 2024.

But a win would move the visitors level on points with the Dons, which raises the stakes that bit further.

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It has been absolutely chucking it down with rain in Kilmarnock, but Rangers boss Philippe Clement is still smiling.

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