Hibs v Kilmarnock: Match preview and probable teams

Hibs host Kilmarnock in their penultimate home game of the season, with one win and two draws from the previous three encounters this campaign.

Scott Allan will likely return to the Hibs starting line-up for the visit of Kilmarnock. Picture: SNS Group

Neil Lennon has been boosted in his preparation for the fixture with the return of Marvin Bartley from suspension, Darren McGregor from injury and Scott Allan, who was ineligible to face parent club Celtic last week.

Aside from Ross Laidlaw, who remains sidelined with a shoulder injury, Lennon has a full team to choose from for the visit of Steve Clarke’s side.

Despite last week’s impressive 2-1 win over champions elect Celtic, Lennon will likely revert to his strongest team, which would see Steven Whittaker making way for Darren McGregor and Danny Swanson dropping out for Allan.

However, Swanson was one of the stand-out performers against Brendan Rodgers’ side and could play more of a part against the Ayrshire side.

Dylan McGeouch is a doubt for the match, with Bartley or Whittaker likely to step into that deep-lying midfield role if the former Celtic man misses out.

Oli Shaw, Ryan Porteous and Fraser Murray are all possibilities for the subs bench, along with Ben Stirling, after the quartet helped Hibs Under-20s to Youth Cup glory at Hampden on Thursday night while Brandon Barker, who came on as a substitute against Celtic, will be pushing for greater involvement after recovering from injury.

Clarke has just two players out through injury, with Steven Smith and Rory McKenzie both out with knee injuries. Aside from that, the former West Brom boss has a full squad at his disposal.

Jamie MacDonald could well return to the starting line-up while Jordan Jones and Youssouf Mulumbu, who missed the 2-0 loss to Aberdeen last week, are expected to return.

Kris Boyd netted in the 2-2 draw at Rugby Park, and was on target last time out at Easter Road. The veteran frontman will be looking to get on the scoresheet again tomorrow.

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

Likely Hibs team (4-1-3-2): Marciano; Ambrose, McGregor, Hanlon, Stevenson; McGeouch; Boyle, S Allan, McGinn; Kamberi, Maclaren. Subs from: Bell, Porteous, Gray, Rherras, Whittaker, F Murray, Stirling, Bartley, Swanson, Slivka, Barker, Shaw.

Likely Kilmarnock team (4-5-1): MacDonald; O’Donnell, Broadfoot, Findlay, Taylor; Brophy, Dicker, Power, Mulumbu, Jones; K Boyd. Subs from: Fasan, S Boyd, Burke, Kiltie, Wilson, Greer, Erwin, Simpson, Tshibola.

Kick-off: 3.00pm

Odds: Hibs 69/100 Draw 56/19 Kilmarnock 5/1 (Odds correct at the time of writing)

• For more statistics, visit our dedicated Hibs page