Hibs v Kilmarnock: Match preview and probable line-ups

Hibs host Kilmarnock at Easter Road hoping to round off 2017 with three points against a Killie side that have come on leaps and bounds since Steve Clarke took the reins.

Hibs host Kilmarnock and will hope to get three points from their final fixture of 2017. Picture: SNS Group

Neil Lennon will be without Ross Laidlaw and Steven Whittaker, who miss out with a shoulder injury and pelvic problem respectively, while Brandon Barker misses out after picking up a knee injury in the derby.

Martin Boyle, who was also forced off with an injury, faces a late fitness test, while Marvin Bartley should feature despite a dead leg.

Oli Shaw, who saw his early effort incorrectly ruled out, is likely to start again, with Anthony Stokes in a supporting striker role in a 4-4-1-1 formation.

Midfield enforcer Marvin Bartley should retain his starting berth and will look forward to the engine room tussle with Youssouf Mulumbu and Gary Dicker.

The visitors, meanwhile, are missing Gordon Greer, who is nursing a groin injury. Iain Wilson (knee) and Steven Smith (back) also remain out.

Greg Kiltie has a hamstring problem – the 20-year-old made his first appearance of the season against Motherwell two weeks ago following a seven-month spell on the sidelines with a broken ankle – but Clarke is taking no risks and with Kiltie feeling his hamstring, he will not feature in the club’s final match of the calendar year.

Dom Thomas and Dean Hawkshaw are doubts after both were struck down by a sickness bug. However, they have an outside chance of making Clarke’s matchday squad.

Last five meetings: Kilmarnock 0-3 Hibs; Hibs 0-1 Kilmarnock; Kilmarnock 1-1 Hibs; Hibs 3-0 Kilmarnock; Kilmarnock 1-2 Hibs.

Likely Hibs team: (4-4-1-1): Marciano; Ambrose, McGregor, Hanlon, Stevenson; Boyle/Swanson, McGeouch, Bartley/Slivka, McGinn; Stokes; Shaw. Subs from: Dabrowski, Gray, Porteous, Fontaine, Slivka/Bartley, Swanson/Boyle, F Murray, Matulevicius, S Murray.

Likely Kilmarnock team (4-4-2): MacDonald; O’Donnell, S Boyd, Broadfoot, Taylor; Power, Dicker, Mulumbu, Jones; Brophy, K Boyd. Subs from: Bell, Burke, Erwin, Findlay, Frizzell, McKenzie, Waters, Hawkshaw, Thomas.

Referee: Alan Muir

Kick-off: 3.00pm

Odds: Hibs 4/5 Draw 68/25 Kilmarnock 17/4 (Odds correct at the time of writing)

• For more statistics, visit our dedicated Hibs page