Hearts v Kilmarnock team news and probable line-ups: Influential star set for injury return | new signing in line for debut | Killie's concerning Tynecastle record

Everything you need to know ahead of Wednesday's match at Tynecastle

Hearts host Kilmarnock in the Ladbrokes Premiership looking to keep their unbeaten start to 2020 going for another game.

The Tynecastle side are sitting in 11th place in the league after Saturday's 3-3 draw with St Johnstone was enough to move them off the bottom of the table.

While certain positions, such as the forward and centre-back pairings, will pick themselves, manager Daniel Stendel has a lot to contemplate in other areas, particularly if a valuable first-team member is to return to the starting XI after missing the last few games through injury.

Aidy White challenges Chris Burke during the last meeting between the teams. Picture: SNS

Killie have a strong recent record against Hearts in Edinburgh, winning on four of their last five visits and remaining unbeaten during that time.

Hearts team news: Michael Smith is expected to return from injury after missing the last three games following a knock sustained in the cup against Airdrie. Aaron Hickey, who suffered a similar injury in the same match, is not yet expected to return. New signing Marcel Langer could make his debut after being allowed the St Johnstone game off to acclimatise to life in Scotland. Peter Haring remains a long-term absentee.

Probable Hearts team: Pereira; Clare, Halkett, Souttar, White; Henderson, Smith, Irving, Avdijaj; Naismith, Boyce.

Kilmarnock team news: Innes Cameron and Adam Frizzell remain out for the away side who don't have any fresh injury concerns.

Probable Kilmarnock team: Branescu; O'Donnell, Del Fabro, Findlay, Hamalainen; Burke, Power, Dicker, McKenzie; Brophy, Kabamba.

Key clash: The Hearts defence will have to perform better than they did away to St Johnstone, where they were all over the place in the second period and could have conceded more than the three goals they allowed their hosts. Craig Halkett, in particular, was well below his performance in the previous match against Rangers and he'll have his work cut out for him going up against Scottish international striker Eamonn Brophy.

Last meeting: Hearts were undone by Chris Burke within the first 16 minutes as the winger scored twice and set up another, killing the game off before it had much chance to get started.

Referee: Hearts have failed to win any of the three games David Munro has overseen this season. Those were league defeats at St Johnstone and Hamilton, and a Betfred Cup embarrassment against East Fife, where the Ladbrokes Premiership side were edged out for the bonus point by their League One opponents on penalties.

Odds: Hearts 1/1 Draw 23/10 Kilmarnock 3/1