Early team news as Hibs face Livingston at Easter Road – Deadline News
Hibernian return to competitive action on Saturday with a home clash against Livingston, kicking off a pivotal March at Easter Road. After a productive break on the training ground, the hosts are set to name a strong squad with only two confirmed absentees.
Squad update: nearly a clean bill of health
Head coach David Gray has a deep pool to choose from, with just Josh Mulligan and Rudi Molotnikov ruled out. Mulligan remains sidelined, while Molotnikov suffered an ankle knock during a closed-door run-out and will miss this match. The setback isn’t expected to be long term, with a return to training targeted for next week.
Several first-teamers sharpened up during that bounce game. Grant Hanley and Jordan Obita each banked 45 minutes, while others completed full matches to top up their match sharpness. Coaches will still weigh up minutes in the legs before finalizing the XI to avoid rushing anyone back too quickly.
Break well spent: fresh legs and sharper edges
The free weekend was put to good use. Rather than focusing on fitness from scratch, the emphasis shifted to game rhythm and decisiveness. Players who needed a breather got it, and those short on minutes were brought up to speed in a controlled environment. The sense in camp is that the group is trending upwards at just the right moment for the run-in.
Form guide: momentum with the hosts
Hibs arrive on a three-match unbeaten streak in the league. That sequence includes back-to-back victories over St Mirren and Celtic, followed by an action-packed 3-3 draw away at Dens Park. The recent uptick has tightened the picture in the upper half and put added value on every point from here on out.
At Easter Road, performances have generally been sturdy. Even so, the message internally is clear: home comfort doesn’t guarantee anything, and standards need to be high from the first whistle.
Opposition check: Livingston battling back
Despite sitting bottom, Livingston have found stubborn form in recent weeks under Marvin Bartley. They’ve ground out three successive draws—2-2 with Dundee, 2-2 with Rangers, and 1-1 with St Mirren—evidence of a side hard to put away.
Expect the visitors to lean into that resilience. With the table compressed and stakes rising across the division—title races, European spots, and survival battles all in play—confidence and concentration will be decisive.
What to watch for
- Selection balance: With minutes carefully managed, watch for late calls on players who recently returned to action.
- Early tempo: Hibs will aim to establish control quickly to prevent Livingston from settling into a low-risk rhythm.
- Set-piece edges: In tight games, dead-ball moments could tip the balance, especially against an opponent comfortable in a scrap.
The bottom line
Hibs have momentum and home advantage; Livingston bring grit and a recent habit of making life difficult. With the season entering its decisive phase, the hosts are targeting three points to reinforce their unbeaten run and keep pace in a congested league table.
