The Scottish Premier League throws up its first big clash of the season on Sunday, as Edinburgh giants Hibernian and Hearts get set to battle for the bragging rights of the capital at Easter Road (Hibernian 9/4, draw 9/4, Hearts 5/4 – Match Betting).

Hearts got their campaign off to a strong start last weekend as they breezed past St Johnstone at Tynecastle with a 2-0 victory.

A goal from John Sutton from the penalty spot and a late finish from highly rated attacker David Templeton was enough to give the Jambos the three points in an accomplished performance from manager John McGlynn’s men.

Templeton (9/1 – First Goalscorer) managed to win the penalty in the first half before scoring a goal of his own in the second and justified why plenty of clubs in the Championship south of the border have been linked with the 23-year-old.

With Glasgow Rangers dropping out of the SPL, Hearts certainly have a great chance to establish themselves as the second best side in the Scottish top flight behind the undoubted winners of the competition this term – Celtic.

McGlynn will have been pleased with the win over Saints but it will be a completely different challenge when they take on their old rivals on Sunday.

Hibernian had an opening day of the season to forget, as they were thumped 3-0 on the road at Dundee United last Sunday.

Manager Pat Fenlon will have had plenty to work on in training over the last week but he certainly won’t have to get his squad geared up for this Edinburgh derby which should produce a superb atmosphere at Easter Road.

Leigh Griffiths (13/2 – First Goalscorer) up front for Hibs will be a player the Hearts defence will have to keep their eye on and although he did not open his goalscoring account against Dundee United, he will be a threat on Sunday.

Hibs will be boosted with the news that Alan Maybury  and Gary Deegan could make their debuts for the club in the fiery atmosphere of the derby, which will certainly be a baptism of fire for the Irish pair.

Danny Galbraith is set to miss the game, as the winger still needs time to get back up to full match fitness having gone under the knife to rectify a groin injury.

As for Hearts (25/1 – SPL Outright) they will still be without Jamie Hamill, who is recovering from a knee injury, but do welcome back the suspended Danny Grainger who missed the win over St Johnstone but should feature this weekend.

The fact this is a derby will make it a closer affair than it should be and it’s hard to judge at this early stage of the season how this one will pan out.

But based on their contrasting opening days of the season, and with the likes of Sutton and Templeton in their ranks, it looks like the Maroon half of Edinburgh will be cheering at the final whistle.

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