A Hibs v Hearts derby with Caesars Palace stakes: deals with devil, injury issues and jangling nerves

Hibs had just gone 3-0 up and most of the second half was still in front of us. The visitors, spooked by being in such an uncompromising position, gave the ball away and the hosts sped forward, smelling blood. The ball was played across to Josh Mulligan and he fired wide from dead in front of goal.

The miss did not change the outcome of the match. Hibs won. But instead of dishing out a proper beating, they ended up clinging on as Hearts staged a comeback. In the end, only a brilliant save from Raphael Sallinger in stoppage time from Lawrence Shankland thwarted the Jam Tarts levelling.

That 3-2 win was big for Hibs and their head coach David Gray. It’s one of the few statement results in a frustrating season that could have delivered more. Should they finish in the European places, it would seem churlish for Hibbies to complain - but there’s a maroon-sized problem across the city. Hearts could win the league.

Had Mulligan scored and Hibs gone on to gut their neighbours, perhaps Hearts’ title charge could have been derailed further. In a show of their credentials, Derek McInnes’ men responded to that defeat by beating Livingston, Dundee, St Mirren and Dundee United, as well as drawing with Celtic. The comeback of sorts that December day in Leith showed that this Hearts team doesn’t go down without a fight.

Setbacks have been rare for Hearts this season, but when they’ve come along, usually the response has been emphatic. That is why they go into Sunday afternoon’s latest Edinburgh derby top of the league and 19 points clear of Hibs.

Hearts have been at the Premiership’s summit since September. At first it was a bit of fun for supporters who were just enjoying the ride. As time has worn on, as Celtic and Rangers cracks became more apparent and the wins kept coming, the situation became more serious. Hearts fans are now a mixture of excited and tremendously nervous.

For some, they have been here before. 1986 still casts a spectre over a generation of Jambos. At least this time around, Dens Park isn’t looming. Hearts were also in the title conversation more recently in 1998 and 2006.

They never got over the line.

This time, there is a compelling case for Hearts to win the title. They have won so many big games. They’ve taken care of Hibs twice at home and slayed both halves of the Old Firm in Edinburgh and in Glasgow. McInnes has moulded a team with Jamestown signings from afar and seasoned players from these shores. They have a goal threat, they are aggressive and they can defend.

But this is uncharted territory for this team. Five games, only two of which are at fortress Tynecastle, where no team has won this season.

Hearts’ travails on the road

Hearts’ recent away form isn’t something to boast about: three defeats and a draw at bottom club Livingston. This year, outside of the capital, sanctuary has only been found - somewhat ironically - in the city of discovery. Both Dundee clubs reside in the bottom six. Their derby earlier on Sunday pales into insignificance.

This run on the road has led to questions. Are Hearts slowing down? Do they have the bottle to get the job done? All fair. Hearts haven’t been quite as swashbuckling as earlier in the season and now they have the hot breath of both Celtic and Rangers searing down their neck.

The Old Firm come calling in May. For now, it’s Hibs. This is a dangerous assignment, where the stakes are akin to those at Caesars Palace. Win, and Hearts stay top and belief soars to unimaginable levels. Lose or even draw and there’s a chance Rangers, just a point behind, leapfrog them and go into their meeting a week on Monday top of the pile.

Add into the mix the usual joy/pain of a derby result and this is not your usual Hibs v Hearts match.

Nerves will be jangling in the home end too. You will do well to find a Hibs fan who can look you in the eye and truly say they can stomach Hearts winning the league. Gray’s team have never been in the title conversation - but they can have a say.

In terms of the league, Hibs have their own cause too. Three points behind fourth-placed Motherwell, the goal is to automatically qualify for Europe and not rely on Celtic beating Dunfermline in the Scottish Cup final and cascading a Conference League berth to fifth. Behind them, Falkirk are not out of the equation either.

Would Hibs fans trade European football for Hearts not winning the league? All sorts of hypothetical deals with the devil have been bandied around this week. Even Andy Murray, a Hibs supporter, waded in - although the tennis legend raised eyebrows when he suggested he could cope with Hearts doing for the betterment of Scottish football.

Both teams have injury concerns, and there is a growing rumour that Hearts midfielder Cammy Devlin - so influential this season - won’t make it. That would be a blow and would equalise Mulligan’s absence. Hibs best player this campaign, he isn’t quite fit after a January ankle injury.

The outcome here sets the tone, and will either quell or swell belief - especially for Hearts. Sunshine on Leith might also be followed by the sun setting on Gorgie. The brutal yet captivating nature of the split means more “cup finals” await. But don’t let that take the glint off this derby, given a prime-time slot on Sky Sports. This is a big one. Sit back and enjoy.