Partick Thistle v Hibs: Match preview and probable line-ups

Hibs have been training hard for tomorrow's trip to Maryhill. Picture: SNS Group

Lithuanian international Vykintas Slivka will likely be asked to fill in after coming on as a sub away to Hamilton last week. Anthony Stokes returns to the matchday squad for Hibs, but Neil Lennon is still without injured quartet Ross Laidlaw (shoulder), Liam Fontaine (ankle) and David Gray and Danny Swanson who are both nursing knee injuries.

Lennon spoke of his hopes that Swanson would make a return to action to help ease the pressure on the first team during a busy festive period while Darren McGregor is also expected to make the squad again after featuring on the bench at the SuperSeal Stadium last time out.

Laidlaw’s absence means Maciej Dabrowski will continue as the sub ‘keeper, while the Pole’s development squad team-mates Fraser Murray, Oli Shaw and Ryan Porteous are also likely to make the bench alongside Deivydas Matulevicius.

Liam Craig scored the winner the last time Hibs won in Maryhill, the midfielder smashing home from the edge of the box after good work by Abdellah Zoubir on the right as Hibs won a Monday night clash 1-0.

Alan Archibald has no suspensions to take into consideration but he is still without long-term injured quartet Callum Booth, Stuart Bannigan (both knee), Mustapha Dumbuya (achilles) and Christie Elliott (ankle).

The Jags are likely to continue with the 5-3-2 formation favoured by Archibald, with Conor Sammon - ineligible for the 1-1 draw with Hearts - and Miles Storey starting up front.

Kris Doolan has been struggling with a knee injury but came off the bench to nab the equaliser against Hearts at Tynecastle, and Archibald reckons the Firhill medical staff will be wrapping the striker in cotton wool for the duration of Partick’s frantic December. He could start if Archibald feels he’s fit, with Storey likely to drop to the bench.

Last five meetings: Hibs 3-1 Partick; Hibs 1-1 Partick; Partick 3-1 Hibs; Partick 1-1 Hibs; Partick 0-1 Hibs.

Likely Partick team (5-3-2): Cerny; McGinn, Keown, Devine, Turnbull, Lawless; Spittal, Barton, Edwards; Sammon, Storey. Subs from: Scully, Nitriansky, Fraser, Osman, McCarthy, Nisbet, Erskine, Doolan.

Likely Hibs team: (4-2-3-1): Marciano; Whittaker, Ambrose, Hanlon, Stevenson; Bartley, Slivka; Boyle, McGeouch, Barker; S Murray. Subs from: Dabrowski, McGregor, Porteous, Matulevicius, F Murray, Shaw, Stokes.

Referee: Craig Thomson

Kick-off: 3pm

Odds: Partick 43/10 Draw 13/5 Hibs 3/4 (Odds correct at the time of writing)

• For more statistics, visit our dedicated Hibs page