Hearts will take on Dundee on Saturday, 21 March, as they look to cling onto their position at the top of the Scottish Premiership table.
Derek McInnes' side surrendered their five-point advantage at the top of the division last weekend, but all is not lost, and their fate remains in their own hands with eight matches to play.
While Dundee have nothing to play for in terms of Europe or relegation, they would love to finish above their city rivals, Dundee United, but currently trail the Tangerines by two points. A win here could see them leapfrog United into 7th position.
Before taking a look at the rest of today's betting tips, check out our Hearts vs Dundee prediction below.
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Hearts vs Dundee key stats
- Hearts have won two of their last three Scottish Premiership matches.
- Dundee have won just one of their last five away matches.
- Fewer than two goals have been scored in five of Hearts' last six matches.
Hearts vs Dundee preview: Hosts to get back on track
| Hearts | vs | Dundee |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Position | 7th |
| 63 | Points | 34 |
| 52 | Goals For | 38 |
| 25 | Goals Against | 48 |
| 15 | Clean Sheets | 5 |
| 1st | Home Rank | 7th |
| 3rd | Away Rank | 9th |
While last week's defeat to Kilmarnock was undoubtedly a bitter blow for Hearts, if you had offered them and their supporters a two-point lead at the top of the table with eight games to go back in August, they would have ripped your hand off.
An opportunity is still very much there for the Jam Tarts, and with key players returning from injury, they will feel confident of getting back on track this weekend in front of their home crowd.
Lawrence Shankland is the standout returnee this weekend. The club's talisman has been out for the past two months but has returned to training this week alongside influential midfielder Cammy Devlin.
Dundee have lost four of their past five Scottish Premiership trips to Hearts.
McInnes labelled the duo as the best in the division in their respective positions, and he will be desperate to get them back onto the pitch this weekend, even if they will have to start on the bench.
In terms of other injuries, the Jambos remain without Tomas Magnusson, Stuart Findlay, Craig Gordon, Calem Nieuwenhof, Finlay Pollock and Stephen Kingsley.
As for their opponents, Dundee manager Steven Pressley will feel that his side stole a result in last weekend's Dundee derby, after scoring twice in stoppage time to rescue a point.
Hearts have won seven of their past nine league meetings with Dundee.
The pressure is very much off Dundee at this point as, more than anything, they have next to zero chance of being relegated. However, the brilliant performances of Motherwell and Hearts this season should offer hope to other mid-table Scottish Premiership sides about what is possible.
An improvement in their recent form against the Jambos will be required if Dundee are to get anything from the match on Saturday. They have failed to win five of their last six matches against Hearts and lost 1-0 to them earlier this season.
Pressley's injury problems aren't nearly as long as his opposite number's, with Clark Robertson his only absentee.
Hearts vs Dundee form guide & betting tips
| Hearts | vs | Dundee |
|---|---|---|
| W-L-W-W-L | Form | D-W-D-W-D |
| 9 | Points | 9 |
| 5th | Form Table | 4th |
| 5 | Goals For | 12 |
| 5 | Goals Against | 10 |
Whispers predicts: Hearts 2-0 Dundee
Hearts have made a habit of winning matches to nil in recent months, particularly at Tynecastle, with their last three matches here finishing 1-0. Hearts to win to nil on Saturday has been priced at 5/4 by Bet365.
Regardless of the match result, it should be considered a huge shock if this match turned into a goalfest. Only one of Hearts' last six matches at Tynecastle has produced more than two goals, and under 2.5 goals has been priced at 11/10.
Claudio Braga has scored 12 league goals so far this season, and he is priced at 1/1 to score anytime with Bet365.
> Anytime goalscorer- Claudio Braga at 1/1 | Likelihood: Probable
> Result - Hearts to win to nil at 5/4 | Likelihood: Possible
> Total goals - Under 2.5 at 11/10 | Likelihood: Probable