Hearts face test at Celtic Park

And former Scotland full-back Tosh McKinlay, who played for both clubs, is tipping the home side to prevail in the eagerly anticipated clash.

"It's a game everyone's looking forward to," McKinlay told BBC Sport.

"I think it will be a very close game and there will be a few goals but I think Celtic should just about shade it with home advantage."

Hearts are unbeaten, having won the first eight games of the SPL campaign and battling back from 2-0 down with ten men to earn a draw at Falkirk last time out.

Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon was the man dismissed and he will miss out for the visitors, along with striker Roman Bednar.

Euro 2004 winner Panagiotis Fyssas is also a doubt having missed Greece's midweek international with a knee injury.

Celtic are on a run of five league wins since their Old Firm defeat at Ibrox in August but they too have injury problems.

Striker Maciej Zurawski was hurt on international duty for Poland and won't play.

Captain Neil Lennon returns from suspension but Alan Thompson may not have recovered from an ankle knock in time.

"Over the years it's been a good fixture," added McKinlay, who made 22 appearances for Scotland.

"I've been to Celtic Park with Hearts and it was always a difficult place to go.

"But if Hearts have any aspirations of winning the title, they need to go to places like that and win."

Hearts celebrate during their September win over Rangers
Hearts have enjoyed a great start to the season
McKinlay spent almost five years at Tynecastle before a £350,000 move to Celtic in 1994.

The defender then enjoyed five seasons with Celtic and played at Euro 1996 and the 1998 World Cup.

Hearts have several experienced internationals in their ranks now and McKinlay believes that will work in their favour.

He said: "Hearts have Scotland internationals down the spine of their team and the new guys like (Rudi) Skacel (Edgaras) Jankauskas and Fyssas won't be phased.

"I saw Bednar on the opening day at Kilmarnock and he will be a big miss as will Craig (Gordon).

"But Hearts will believe they can win."

However, McKinlay thinks Hearts' great run may come to an end at the weekend.

He added: "Celtic over the past few weeks have strung some great results together and are starting to play the sort of football Gordon Strachan wants to see.

"They turned it on for the 5-0 win at Livingston and there were five different scorers so everyone is confident.

"And as a Celtic player with home advantage, you always fancied your chances against anyone."

Taken from the BBC