Hearts welcome fierce rivals Hibs to Tynecastle tonight for the third Edinburgh derby of the Scottish Premiership season - and few of these clashes have been as important as this evening’s.
Three points clear at the top of the table, Derek McInnes’ side is reaching crunch time in their quest to win their first league title since 1960. Beaten for only the third time this season against St Mirren last week, the Jambos know they can’t afford too many slip-ups with Rangers and Celtic breathing down their necks.
However, their Edinburgh neighbours would love to knock them off their perch, damage their title credentials and record a second successive win against them following their 3-2 triumph at Easter Road back in late December.
Comfortably in the top half of the table, David Gray’s Hibs side trail fourth-placed Motherwell by just four points heading into the game, and will want to add pressure to those above as they seek a second successive top-three finish.
With both Edinburgh sides looking stronger than they have done in many seasons, we pondered which players would make a combined Hearts and Hibs starting XI, based on the 2025/26 campaign so far.
Using the popular football statistics website FotMob, this is who would make a combined Hearts-Hibs starting XI this season in a 4-3-3 formation.
1. GK: Raphael Sallinger - Hibs
The Austrian goalkeeper takes the number one spot, edging out Alexander Schwolow with an average rating of 7.35. He has an impressive save percentage of 73.9% since his arrival at Easter Road, and has made just one error that has led to a goal in his 21 league appearances. | SNS Group
2. RB: Chris Cadden - Hibs
While other full-backs have rated higher than Cadden, they all play on the opposite flank, making the Hibs defender the highest ranked right-back this season. Scoring an average rating of 6.80, the 29-year-old has one goal and two assists so far. | SNS Group
3. CB: Craig Halkett - Hearts
One of Hearts' most important players this season, the 30-year-old is suspended for Tuesday's Edinburgh derby in Gorgie, and he'll be sorely missed by the home side. With an average rating of 7.42, he's one of the league highest rated centre-backs and has provided at both ends of the pitch this term, scoring an impressive four goals from defence. | SNS Group
4. CB: Stuart Findlay - Hearts
One of Derek McInnes' most important summer signings, the ex-Kilmarnock man partners Halkett in defence with an average rating of 7.26. Like his defensive teammate, he's chipped in at both ends of the pitch and has scored five league goals this term. | SNS Group