Celtic travel to Tynecastle on Saturday night for a highly anticipated clash with Heart of Midlothian, where under the lights, sparks are almost guaranteed to fly.
Despite the disparity in league positions, this fixture has all the hallmarks of a fiery encounter as both sides look to make a statement.
Celtic, under Brendan Rodgers, sit comfortably atop the Scottish Premiership table after a dominant run of ten wins and one draw.
Hearts, on the other hand, have struggled to find form, with only one win in 13 games, prompting the recent appointment of Neil Critchley as manager in place of Steven Naismith.
Despite their poor start, Critchley has steadied the ship somewhat, losing just two of his first five league matches in charge.
For Rodgers and Celtic, the aim will be to widen the gap at the summit, while Hearts will hope to channel the energy of their home crowd to disrupt the champions.
Speaking ahead of the game, former Hearts manager Steven Naismith, who now works closely with the club, highlighted the scale of the challenge but also offered a glimpse into how Hearts might approach the fixture.
Steven Naismith on Hearts’ Approach to Celtic:
In an interview with Sky Sports, Naismith warned that Celtic’s quality is unmatched in the league but believes Hearts can capitalise on moments of vulnerability:
“Knowing Hearts and the club well, they’ll expect a performance and expect to be able to get something from it. They’ll see it as an opportunity.
“Obviously, their start to the season hasn’t been great. But I do think the form had lifted. It does look that there’s an energy in the team. It is going to be difficult with the quality of Celtic. I think from my own experiences in those games after the internationals, there can be a dip in the performance levels at clubs just from the break and the travel.
“For Hearts, they’ve got to use that as much as they can, and I think Celtic will want to slip into that routine that they’ve been in.”
He added: “In those games especially, you don’t get those opportunities as you maybe do in other games. I always said you need to defend very well, but you need to be comfortable having the ball. In the game against Rangers, Hearts were comfortable in possession, which gives you a bit of momentum and lets you try to dictate the game.
“That will be important, the fans will want an energetic performance and that’ll be expected as well, but the one team in the league that can kill you at any moment is Celtic.”
Celtic Look to Continue Their Winning Run:
For Celtic, the match marks their return from the international break, a period that often disrupts rhythm.
However, the Bhoys will take confidence from their recent run of results, including a hard-fought win over Kilmarnock last time out, where their clinical edge proved decisive.
Though not their most convincing display, Rodgers’ side showed resilience, a quality that will serve them well in the weeks ahead as they navigate a packed schedule across all competitions.
While Hearts will aim to frustrate and disrupt, Celtic’s focus will be on maintaining their momentum and extending their lead at the top. This clash promises intensity, passion, and, undoubtedly, a few fireworks under the Tynecastle lights.