Hearts v Inverness CT: Team news, starting XI, match odds, how to watch live

Hearts face their final game at Tynecastle Park this season with Inverness CT the opponents. Picture: SNS

It is the Championship winners’ penultimate fixture of what has been, at times, a trying season but one which was ultimately successful with the team securing a return to the Premiership.

Focus in the build-up to the game has surrounded whether or not Hearts will lift the league trophy or leave it on the stand as fans have been imploring the team to do. The players are set to have discussions ahead of the game on what decision to take with captain Steven Naismith outlining the dilemma.

"You have to show respect to certain parts of the division, but on the other side we shouldn't have been here," he said.

Inverness CT, under interim boss Neil McCann, have been in great form. Since losing to Morton on March 9, a result which left them second bottom, they have embarked on a seven-game unbeaten run and now sit fifth.

With two games remaining, they are one point behind Dunfermline in the race for the final play-off spot.

The Highlanders have confirmed they will, like Morton, give Hearts a guard of honour for their Championship victory.

Team news: Hearts will be without Jamie Walker and Stephen Kingsley once more. The former missed the midweek draw with Morton with a knee issue, while the latter has been out since suffering a groin injury in the 0-0 draw with ARbroath. Jamie Brandon and Josh Ginnelly are long-term absentees.

Possible starting XI: Gordon; Logan, Halkett, Souttar, Smith; McEneff, Halliday, Haring; Henderson, Boyce, Mackay-Steven.

What Robbie Neilson said: “When you have a title celebration, it’s with the fans, for the fans. When you don’t have any fans in the stadium, what are you doing it for? We have our own celebration as a group together but we’ve not got the fans to enjoy it with.”

Match details: Saturday, April 24. Tynecastle Park, Edinburgh. Kick-off 3pm.

How to watch: Season ticket holders who have not opted out of games can watch the match via HeartsFCpass.com. A Pay Per View option is available for both sets of fans from here. The game is also available for Hearts TV’s international subscribers.

Last meeting: The teams drew in the Highlands back in February in what was McCann's first game in charge following John Robertson being granted compassionate leave. Miles Storey gave the home side an early lead before Liam Boyce levelled before the interval.

Key stat: Hearts will have to be wary of through balls. No team plays more in the league than Inverness and that threat has only increased with on loan Hibs midfielder Scott Allan.

Referee: Bobby Madden – This will be only the third Championship match for the official. Madden, who has overseen 16 top-flight matches, has been in charge of the previous meeting between these sides at Tynecastle, plus the recent Dundee v Dunfermline encounter at Dens Park.

Match odds: Hearts 8/13 Draw 14/5 Inverness CT 17/4