'Pressure on both sides enormous' in Edinburgh derby

"It's the biggest Edinburgh derby league game in my lifetime."

That's how 34-year-old Andy Halliday described Sunday's meeting between Hibernian and Hearts at Easter Road.

With five games to go, the visitors lead the Scottish Premiership by one point.

Away form has been a problem for Hearts of late, so can their rivals put a spanner in the works?

"The pressure on both sides is enormous," said Motherwell midfielder Halliday, who spent three-and-a-half years at Tynecastle.

Talking on the BBC Scottish Football Podcast, he added: "Hearts are five games from winning the title. The Hibs players are trying to stop Hearts winning the league."

Scott Allan, a former Hibs hero, echoed those thoughts, saying: "There's no getting away from how important this game is for both sets of fans.

"For Hibs, it's a chance to derail Hearts' title challenge, which is probably Hibs' fans biggest fear.

"They're on the same number of titles in their history (four) and if Hearts can do it, you can't see Hibs ever pulling that back."

Hibs, who are three points behind Motherwell in the race to finish fourth, are unbeaten in their past three home derbies, winning a 3-2 thriller in December.

Hearts have scored late goals in all three meetings with their city rivals this season, earning two tense 1-0 wins at Tynecastle.

"Hibs are putting pressure on Motherwell, who have a difficult game against Rangers, so a win could be a big boost," explained Allan, who had three spells at Easter Road, scoring in a 2018 derby victory.

"Hibs have been competitive all season, but there's been far too many draws (12).

"I think there is just so much jeopardy for Hearts."

Halliday lost in only one of the derbies he played in and thinks his old team may have an edge in the middle of the park and up front.

"Hearts have a lot of combative midfielders who play with real energy," he said. "Josh Mulligan will be a huge miss for Hibs."