WE'RE THE HIGHBEES - KEY BATTLES

Calum Elliot v Gary Caldwell

CALUM ELLIOT produced a man-of-the-match show against Celtic on New Year's Day despite a 3-2 defeat.

Has bagged two first-team goals this term and boss Graham Rix rated the teenager so highly he handed him a two-year deal.

The big fear is that Elliot does not know how to handle a game of this magnitude and freezes on the big occasion but he has enough in his locker to trouble Celtic-bound Caldwell and come of age on a day when it matters most.

Caldwell was jeered by Hibs fans two weeks ago after it emerged that he had signed a pre-contract agreement with the Parkhead men.

And he copped further flak when his mistake against Aberdeen cost his side three vital SPL points.

The eyes of all Hibs supporters eyes will once again fall on the performance of the normally reliable skipper who is a veteran of Edinburgh derbies.

Rudi Skacel v Scott Brown

THIS is the most intriguing contest of the derby.

Whoever comes out on top in the midfield battle holds the key to all three points.

Rudi Skacel drew first blood for a Hearts side bossed by George Burley.

He scored the opener in the 4-0 rout of Hibs at Tynecastle in August.

The Czech midfielder went on to score in seven SPL games in a row.

Skacel has a brilliant return of 15 goals already and Hearts will find it increasingly difficult to keep the on-loan Marseille star if they fail to qualify for the Champions League

Scott Brown gained ample revenge for Hibs with a masterly display in the 2-0 derby win in October.

Scotland international Brown is the lynchpin of the Easter Road midfield and is a fantastic talent for one so young.

When Brown is on song Hibs tick and they are hard to beat.

But there is still a slight question mark over his suspect temperament due to his hyperactivity on the field.

Derek Riordan v Robbie Neilson

HIBS striker Derek Riordan is on fire and seems to be revelling in his new role on the left- hand side of the attack.

Two sublime goals against Dunfermline shows that the Record Sport columnist's eye is certainly in and his confidence is on the up.

Hibs also knocked back a £250,000 offer for his services from German Bundesliga outfit Kaiserlsautern.

Riordan is an important cog in manager Tony Mowbray's machine as they chase a Champions League slot.

History does not favour Riordan in this fixture as he is yet to score in a derby when Hibs have won.

Robbie Neilson got a torrid time from Steven Naismith as Kilmarnock gave Hearts a lesson in the art of bullying opponents last Saturday.

One wonders how the Scotland Future International defender will fare agai nst a more d i rect player like Riordan.

Taken from the Daily Record