Preview: Hibernian vs. Celtic - prediction, team news, lineups

At a time when the visitors sit nine points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership standings, Hibs are down in seventh spot despite getting back to winning ways last time out.

Match preview

For all of their dominance in the top flight this campaign, Celtic cannot claim to have been at their best during their most recent fixtures.

Four successive victories by one-goal margins preceded their home match with St Johnstone last time out, and Ange Postecoglou would have demanded that his players put on a show against one of the division's most improving outfits.

The Australian got what he would have demanded, Celtic being four goals to the good by the 52nd minute before the visitors netted a consolation goal.

While their clean sheet was extended to just one shutout in six outings, Postecoglou will not linger too much on that statistic as he and his team bid to damper any momentum which is growing elsewhere in Glasgow.

That particularly rings true for this game, with a defeat at Easter Road potentially giving Rangers the chance to move within three points if they were also able to prevail at Ibrox in the Old Firm derby on January 2.

From Hibs' perspective, a run of seven defeats from eight league matches has put Lee Johnson's long-term future at the club in some jeopardy.

However, the Edinburgh-based club produced one of their more impressive performances of the season on Christmas Eve, running out 4-0 victors over Livingston.

Although Hibs were helped by an early sending off, netting four times in 17 minutes either side of half time can only build belief ahead of trying to pull off a shock against the leaders.

Despite Hibs' recent poor form, they remain in the mix for third spot, just two points separating the teams between that position and eighth.

Once this fixture is out of the way, Johnson's side can rest a little easier with the top two out of the way until the end of February, yet that is not to say that they cannot earn a positive result when playing under less pressure on Wednesday.

Hibernian Scottish Premiership form:

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Hibernian form (all competitions):

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Celtic Scottish Premiership form:

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Celtic form (all competitions):

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Team News

Having had the opportunity to rest players during the final half-hour versus St Johnstone, Postecoglou may decide to keep the same Celtic XI.

However, numerous players are in contention for a recall with Jota and Liel Abada both hopeful of earning a return in the final third.

Celtic will have to make do without David Turnbull after the midfielder was sent off after being introduced as a substitute in the last match.

For the first time in a number of games, Johnson will not feel encouraged to make any unenforced changes to his Hibernian starting lineup.

Like his opposite number, he was able to rest players during the second half versus Livingston, and the same eleven should feature here.

If Mykola Kukharevych is able to return from injury, the Ukrainian striker will only feature among the replacements.

Hibernian possible starting lineup:

Marshall; Cadden, Bushiri, Hanlon, Stevenson; Porteous, Newell; Magennis, Campbell, Youan; Nisbet

Celtic possible starting lineup:

Hart; Hatate, Carter-Vickers, Starfelt, Taylor; O'Riley, McGregor, Mooy; Forrest, Furuhashi, Maeda

We say: Hibernian 0-2 Celtic

Celtic broke a habit of being pushed in recent games by coasting past St Johnstone, yet we feel that they may have to work harder here. Nevertheless, we cannot back against the leaders, who may be able to prevail with a clean sheet to boot.

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