So we are finally here – the first Edinburgh derby live on ESPN – and you would not want to miss it. Thanks to an incredible start to the season by Hibs under the stewardship of new manager John Hughes, and the lacklustre start by their capital rivals Hearts – this game has all the necessary ingredients to be a classic.

Hearts simply can’t afford to lose this one, as that would leave them an amazing 14 points behind Hibs in the table, an embarrassing statistic that really sums up their SPL form this season.

In fact, it’s hard to know which Hearts side will turn up on Saturday at Tynecastle, the one which defeated Celtic at Parkhead just a week or so ago in the League Cup, or the one which lost 2-1 at St Mirren a while back. It must be an infuriating question for boss Csaba Laszlo. The manager in fairness has been without many of his key players this season, but still, their squad is better than their league position suggests. So perhaps there is a bit of early season pressure on Laszlo. He will also be only too aware that he’s not won a game against Hibs in the league since he took over in Gorgie.

Yet, what a tale of contrasting fortunes it is for ‘Yogi’ Hughes. The enigmatic Easter Road boss is off to a dream start in Edinburgh. He has his team 2nd top of the SPL, and two weeks ago they drew 1-1 with Rangers at Ibrox – an indication that they are the real deal (for now anyway). Hughes has employed an attacking formation in recent games highlighting his bravery, and it’s proved to be a real hit with his players. Perhaps it can be best described as a 4-2-4, yes that’s not a typo, and I mean 4-2-4! In Zemmama, Benji, Riordan and Stokes they have quite a forward-thinking quartet. If they are deployed in the capital clash then it could be a wide-open explosive affair. Benji even recently stated that he thinks his team can split the Old Firm this season – I doubt that, but if he’s serious then this is the kind of game they have to win.

Mind you, recent history is on Hibs’ side. They did not lose a derby to Hearts in the league last season, and they have actually won the last two in a row. Any guesses as to when they last won three in a row? Well it was the 1975-76 season – what a chance they have to do that at Tynecastle.

The last derby in Gorgie was a tough battle between the teams, with Derek Riordan’s penalty proving the difference (and it sparked mayhem in the crowd), but I expect this one to be a little different. I really do think there will be more passing and creative play on display – that’s what Hughes and Laszlo demand – but I fear that type of encounter will only play into Hibs’ hands. They have the attacking options and the form book with them – but hey after all, it only takes a derby to throw all that form out the window!

Catch our big-match build-up live on ESPN tomorrow at the slightly earlier than normal time of 11.45am. In the lead-up to kick-off we’ll bring you exclusive interviews with Derek Riordan and Anthony Stokes, as well as Andy Driver of Hearts, a man who’s been in the headlines a lot recently. You really wouldn’t want to miss this one.