Hearts head coach Derek McInnes considers the upcoming match against Hibs as potentially their toughest challenge in the Scottish Premiership title race. Hearts currently lead the league by one point over Rangers with five games remaining.
Key points
Hearts head coach Derek McInnes sees Hibs as a tough opponent
Hearts lead the Scottish Premiership by one point over Rangers
The match is part of the post-split fixtures
Hearts aim to win the title for the first time since 1960
Five games remain in the season
HeartsHibernianScottish Premiership
Hearts head coach Derek McInnes believes Edinburgh rivals Hibs could be their "hardest game" as they look to clinch the Scottish Premiership title.
They kick off their post-split fixtures away to their Edinburgh rivals on Sunday, live on Sky Sports, sitting one point ahead of Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
The Jambos, who have led the way virtually all season, have five games left to play in their quest to lift the title for the first time since 1960.
"Obviously you play the best teams now in the top six and there's a lot at stake for each team, none more so again on Sunday."
Hearts have the best head-to-head record against the teams in the top six this season, but lost on their last trip to Easter Road in December.
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HIBS
Highlights of Hearts' derby defeat at Hibs in December
McInnes knows their rivals will be determined to dent their title aspirations.
"Any Hearts-Hibs fixture, regardless of where both teams are in the league, it's never meaningless," he said.
"A big aspect of their motivation in front of their home fans is not to let Hearts win the game, but you'd expect that and they've got to expect a tough game from us.
"Obviously, we took a sore one there in the last time out. We've got to learn from that and hopefully, as I say, we start better, we perform better over 90 minutes and hopefully we get a better outcome."
McEntee and Magnusson to miss title run-in
Oisin McEntee will miss the rest of Hearts' season
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Oisin McEntee will miss the rest of Hearts' season
McInnes revealed influential Hearts player Oisín McEntee will miss the remainder of the title run-in.
The versatile Irishman, who has been deployed at right-back, centre-back and midfield this term, went off with a hamstring injury in the second half of the 3-1 win over Motherwell earlier this month.
"Oisín's out for the season unfortunately, so real bad news for us on that one," said McInnes.
"He has got a tear in his hamstring, to go along with Tomas Magnusson's tear in the thigh. So it's two big competitors and big parts of our team out.
EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - JANUARY 14: Hearts' Tomas Magnusson celebrates after scoring to make it 2-0 during a William Hill Premiership match between Heart of Midlothian and St Mirren at Tynecastle Park, on January 14, 2026, in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Mark Scates / SNS Group)
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Tomas Magnusson is also out for the rest of the season
"Harry [Milne] is progressing really well. He's touch and go for the weekend and we just need to weigh that up, how much work he does before the weekend, whether he gets involved or not.
"If he doesn't make this one, he should be in place for the next one against Rangers."
Initial post-split games to be shown live on Sky Sports
