Over the past century and a half, few encounters between Hibernian and Heart of Midlothian have ignited national interest like today’s face-off at Easter Road promises to do.

Typically, it’s the fervent supporters of these storied clubs who eagerly anticipate their traditional festive clash, a staple in the Scottish football calendar.

However, the widespread attention from the broader Scottish football community today underscores the heightened significance of this Edinburgh derby. The reason? Hearts’ astonishing ascent to the pinnacle of the Premiership has captured imaginations far and wide.

For Hearts fans, this season has been nothing short of a fairy tale, while for Hibs supporters, it’s a bitter pill to swallow. Hibernian has a chance to disrupt the buoyant mood surrounding the league leaders, but whether they can rise to the occasion remains to be seen.

In this analysis, Daily Mail Sport delves into the pivotal elements that could determine the outcome of today’s high-stakes encounter. Can Hearts affirm their title ambitions with another victory?

Hearts manager Derek McInnes has guided his side to the top of the Premiership table

Craig Halkett netted a dramatic late winner in the last meeting between the pair back in October

David Gray is still searching for some momentum in what has has been a stop-start campaign

The Gorgie juggernaut continues its march forward

You could be forgiven for assuming the wheels would have come off Hearts’ bandwagon long before now. For most observers, it was matter of when rather than if it would eventually happen.

It looked for all the world as if a four-game winless run in November and early December would be their undoing. Even Hearts fans, if they’re being honest, must have felt reality biting at that point.

In recent weeks, however, they have taken care of both halves of the Old Firm — not to mention Falkirk — with a bit to spare as well.

Their 2-1 victory over Rangers at Tynecastle last Sunday made it four wins from four over Glasgow’s big two and, make no mistake, each has been thoroughly deserved.

McInnes’ and his men have shown they can win in different ways, too. At times, they have played free-flowing football, while they’ve been more than happy to go physical when needs must.

Hibs know all about that. Hearts weren’t particularly easy on the eye when the sides met in Gorgie in October. In fact, that’s being kind. It was pretty brutal and, on another day, they could — and perhaps should — have dropped points.

Craig Halkett’s stunning stoppage-time volley ensured they didn’t. They have ground out a fair few results this season, but no one at Tynecastle cares about that. One defeat in 18 is title-winning form no matter what the context.

Hearts have stood up to almost everything that’s been thrown their way. This is another huge examination at Easter Road, of course, but one which they would expect to pass.

Martin Boyle has five goals to his name this season and will look to add to that tally later today

Can Hibs finally kickstart their season?

Hibs are in dire need of a spark to really get their campaign up and running. David Gray’s side have been consistently inconsistent, which isn’t much use for a team with genuine ambitions to qualify for Europe.

They can’t put a run of wins together and get themselves up the table. Only twice have they managed to secure maximum points in consecutive fixtures.

For the most part, performances have been decent, but results haven’t matched up.

And it’s the inability to put teams away when on top which has ultimately been their Achilles’ heel, as was demonstrated in last week’s frustrating draw against Dundee Utd at Tannadice.

Goals haven’t necessarily been hard to come by, primarily through Kieron Bowie (6), Martin Boyle (5), and Jamie McGrath (5). Only Celtic and Hearts have scored more for that matter.

But good opportunities are being passed up far too often and, with today’s visitors boasting the joint-best defensive record in the league, Hibs can’t afford to let any go begging if they are to come out on top.

Will home advantage count today?

While Hibs may not be racking up the victories on their own patch this season, they do boast a formidable record in 2025.

Indeed only Celtic and Rangers have come away from Easter Road with full points over the past 20 Premiership ties in Edinburgh.

Premiership top scorer Lawrence Shankland hasn’t found the net against Hibs since early 2024

Gray’s side have come a long way from the early days of last season when the stands were emptying long before full-time against the likes of St Mirren and Motherwell.

The manager deserves so much of the credit for the way in which he eventually turned things around to get the fans back on side.

He’ll certainly need them to be in full voice this afternoon against a Hearts team who have lost just once on the road all year. Even on that day up at Aberdeen, they were the better team.

The travelling supporters sold out today’s allocation in less than 36 hours, something which is becoming par for the course these days such is the satisfaction with what they are seeing.

Shankland needs to rediscover derby scoring habit

What a difference a year makes for Lawrence Shankland. When the Hearts captain lined up in this fixture exactly one year ago to the day, he had netted just three times all season for a team who looked destined for the drop.

Fast forward to now, and the 30-year-old sits both top of the table and the scoring charts with nine to his name already.

No player has scored more than the Scotland international in this fixture since 2017, but he is enduring a bit of a rut against the Hibees, having drawn a blank in each of his past four outings.

With the help of Claudio Braga and Alexandros Kyziridis, he will hope to end that barren run this afternoon.

Alexandros Kyziridis, Claudio Braga and Cammy Devlin have been key to Hearts’ success

Who will come out on top in midfield battle?

While the attacking trio above have generated most of the headlines, the influence of midfielder Cammy Devlin can’t be understated. Simply put, the Australian has been the best player in the country this season.

Man-of-the-match displays against Celtic and Rangers this month have underlined his value to the Hearts team. He would stroll into either of their starting XIs.

Talks over a new contract are ongoing, but the club better get a move on, because no doubt the list of suitors is only going to get larger week by week.

He won’t be the only one on the field today attracting attention, though. Josh Mulligan has been the standout performer for Hibs in the middle of the park, with the former Dundee man being linked with a number of clubs south of the border and abroad in the build-up to the January transfer window.

Not bad going for a guy who only joined the club from Dens Park over the summer.

He’s been an ever-present throughout the campaign, with many tipping him as a wildcard for Steve Clarke’s Scotland World Cup squad. On this form, it will be hard to ignore him for much longer.

No one has been able to get the better of Devlin in the Premiership so far, but Mulligan is perhaps the best bet to do so.