Celtic v Hearts team news and probable line-ups: Key man won't be risked | game comes too soon for duo | change in formation?

Everything you need to know ahead of Wednesday night's game

Hearts travel to Celtic Park in the Ladbrokes Premiership looking for a result that would move them off the bottom of the table.

The 3-2 defeat to Kilmarnock last midweek saw the Gorgie Road side slip back behind Hamilton Accies in the relegation battle by a point. The two sides will go head to head on Saturday.

In the meantime Daniel Stendel will try to figure out how to do become only the second team in Scottish football after Rangers to take points off the Hoops at home this season.

Sean Clare goes to block a shot by Celtic's James Forrest during the last meeting between the clubs. Picture: SNS

It will be interesting to see if Stendel perseveres with the 3-5-2 system witnessed against Falkirk. The German switched formations to try and improve his side's defence record, but while they kept a clean sheet, they were fortunate for the woodwork on three occasions stopping the League One opponents from scoring.

Celtic team news: Nir Bitton and Hatem Abd Elhamed are back training again for the champions, though both are expected to miss out. Jeremie Frimpong remains on the sidelines for the meantime while Michael Johnston is expected to miss the rest of the season.

Probable Celtic team: Forster; Simunovic, Jullien, Ajer; Forrest, Brown, McGregor, Christie, Elyounoussi; Griffiths, Edouard.

Hearts team news: John Souttar (ankle) may miss out as Daniel Stendel insists the defender won't be risked if he's not 100 per cent. The game also comes too quickly for Aaron Hickey (groin) and Toby Sibbick (illness) while Peter Haring (pelvis/groin) is a long-term absentee.

Probable Hearts team: Pereira; Clare, Dikamona, Halkett, White; Irving, Langer; Walker, Naismith, Henderson; Boyce.

Key clash: Craig Halkett will likely be left in charge of a defence that will have to do everything in its power to stop Odsonne Edouard getting on the scoresheet. And if he doesn't, there are still plenty of other attacking options for the hosts in which to inflict pain on their visitors.

Last meeting: Amid a dire run of form Hearts gave a better account of themselves against the league leaders, but ultimately it was a breeze for Neil Lennon's men as two first-half goals carried them to victory.

Referee: It's only the second time Hearts will see Willie Collum this season and, funnily enough, the last game was against Celtic at Parkhead as well. The hosts won the match 3-1 thanks to two own goals inadvertently scored by the visitors.

Odds: Celtic 1/6 Draw 6/1 Hearts 14/1