Given how impressive Hearts have been this season, I think they will emerge from the first Edinburgh derby of the campaign with a point at the very least. Derek McInnes’ hosts have yet to taste defeat inside 90 minutes across their 11 matches in all competitions this term, with the only blot on their copybook a penalty shootout defeat against St Mirren in a round of 16 Scottish League Cup tie.

Since then, Hearts have pocketed 10 points from a possible 12 in the Scottish Premiership, the most notable of which was a statement 2-0 victory away at Rangers.

While Hibs are also undefeated in this season’s Scottish top-flight, they have not managed to take top honours since defeating Dundee on the opening weekend of the campaign. What’s more, David Gray’s side have looked shaky at the back this season, conceding multiple goals in three of their last four matches across all competitions.

I think that is something high-flying Hearts can take advantage of here, making the hosts worthy of support with a half a goal headstart.

While I don’t envisage Hearts coming away empty-handed from this showdown, I suspect they could struggle to silence their capital foes. As such, I think there is plenty of scope for both teams to get on the scoresheet at Tynecastle on Saturday evening.

There have been goals at both ends in all bar one of Hibs’ opening five Scottish Premiership matches of the season, with three of those five contests breaking the over 3.5 goal barrier. Yes, the Hibees opted for an ultra-defensive set up away at Celtic last Saturday, but I don’t think they will look to replicate that type of performance against their arch-rivals, with David Gray’s side likely to take a more front-foot approach on Saturday evening.

While Hearts have done very little wrong this season, they have not been completely bulletproof from a defensive perspective. The Jam Tarts’ backline was breached in their wins over both Dundee United and Livingston, not to mention they had to stage a dramatic comeback to claim a 3-3 draw when hosting Motherwell.

I’m expecting a typical blood and thunder Edinburgh derby at Tynecastle, and that should lead to plenty of goalmouth incidents and chances to score. With that in mind, I think a minimum of 10 match corners should be within range on Saturday evening.

Both Hearts and Hibs have been among the strongest corner performers in this season’s Scottish Premiership, with the hosts averaging 6.84 corners per game, while the visitors are not too far behind with their tally of 6.34 per 90. On top of that, the pair have also been conceding 4.50 and 5.50 corners per game respectively in this season’s Scottish top flight. That can all be attributed to Hearts’ matches generating an average of 11.34 match corners per 90, while Hibs’ games have featured an average of 11.84.

The fact that both of these teams like to utilise the wide areas in their respective formations only adds to the appeal of backing the duo to deliver over 9.5 corners on Saturday evening.

While Hibs have received an average of just 1.34 cards per game in this season’s Scottish Premiership, I’m prepared to look beyond that here by backing the visitors to go into the book at least twice. Sparks are almost certain to fly in Edinburgh on Saturday evening, so referee David Dickinson should be kept busy. 

Moreover, Hibs’ cards per 90 figures have been on the rise in recent weeks, with David Gray’s men picking up multiple bookings in two of their last three Scottish Premiership matches, one of which was away at newly-promoted Falkirk. It's also worth noting that the Hibees collected a couple of cards when crashing to a 2- 0 defeat against Rangers in a Scottish League Cup tie at Ibrox a fortnight ago.

As for Hearts, they have drawn a sizable 2.84 cards per 90 from their Scottish Premiership opponents this season, with five of the six teams that they have faced to date receiving two or more bookings.