8 big Hearts and Hibs questions answered as Ryan Stevenson and Tam McManus look at burning Edinburgh derby issues

RYAN: Hearts. Over the years we’ve had a hold over Hibs and even though current form isn’t near to where it should be this is a fixture Hearts love. When times have been bad Hearts have always managed to scrape something out of it. It’s close but if Hearts turn up they will win. Prediction: Hearts 3 Hibs 1

TAM: Hibs. It’s a long time since I went into a derby so confident. They have the momentum. If you’d asked me this a month ago before the 3-3 draw with Aberdeen then I’d have said something different. But that last minute goal from big Rocky has given Hibs a massive jag. They have won three of the last four and have lots of goals in them. Prediction: Hearts 1 Hibs 2

RYAN : Hard to tell. I actually feel sorry for Neil Critchley because I like the way he is trying to play and the way he comes across. But he needs a couple of windows because this is not his team. Look, lose this and either manager will feel the heat. That’s what happens. It’s the only game that really matters for both sets of fans especially over the festive period. The players have to step up.

TAM: It’s Critchley. Hibs fans have always been behind David Gray and blame the board more than the manager for the early season woes. I don’t think Hearts fans wanted Critchley in the first place. Going out of Europe was a disaster and a derby defeat a week later would really put him under the pump.

RYAN: Massively. There will be 20,000 in the stadium and 17,000 of them wanting Hearts to win. We all know it’s a brilliant place to play - if you’re winning. Hearts need to use that to put their foot on Hibs, the pressure is on them to do that. But it should energise them to fight, scrap and run til they drop and get the win. If they don’t… it’ll be putrid.

TAM: B