Four places separate Hibernian and Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership table heading into Saturday's meeting at Easter Road.
Hibs were beaten 3-1 by champions-elect Celtic before the international break, while the Well lost their first league game in five when they fell 4-2 against Rangers.
Match preview
© Reuters
Lee Johnson must have cursed his side's luck after a tough couple of games preceding the first international break of 2023 halted an impressive unbeaten league run.
The Hibees had gone seven unbeaten in the Scottish Premiership from January to early March, winning five games before facing Rangers and Celtic in successive gameweeks.
Hibernian were unsurprisingly defeated 4-1 and 3-1 by the second-placed outfit and the table-topping side, ending an encouraging run that had seen them move into fifth.
Regardless of this weekend's results, Johnson's side are guaranteed their spot in the competition's top six, with seventh-placed St Mirren hosting sixth-placed Livingston.
Be that as it may, the opportunity to return to winning ways after defeats against the league's best sides and the chance to open a gap on either or both teams right below them must fuel a desire to claim maximum points on Saturday.
Hibs could even move into the European positions if they pick up maximum points in round 30 and fourth-placed Aberdeen, who leads them by a point, fail to beat St Johnstone.
Motherwell's mini resurgence was ended before the two-week hiatus, with defeat at the hands of Rangers ending a four-match sequence without losing.
That form shown by Stuart Kettlewell's team did seem like an anomaly, owing to the preceding run that saw the Well claim no wins in 11 Premiership games since a 1-0 success over Dundee United in late October.
The North Lanarkshire side picked up just two victories in 19 league fixtures between September and mid-February before the start of the unbeaten streak that went on for four gameweeks.
It remains to be seen if the home loss to Rangers precipitates another slump in performances and results for Kettlewell's side, but supporters of the club will hope the side recovers quickly starting this weekend.
However, their inability to get the better of Hibernian in recent meetings — the Well have lost both encounters between the clubs this term — means Hibs are favourites heading into this weekend's clash.
Team News
Martin Boyle had knee surgery last November, and the Hibernian winger is a long-term absentee.
An ankle injury has kept Rocky Bushiri out since January, with the centre-back expected back next month, and Aiden McGeady is still sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Elie Youan received two yellows against Celtic two weeks back and is suspended this weekend.
Motherwell are unexpected to be with Jake Carroll and Joseph Efford, absent after knee surgery and a thigh muscle rupture, respectively.
Callum Slattery is suspended after his sending-off in the 4-2 defeat by Rangers last time out.
Hibernian possible starting lineup:
Marshall; Cadden, Fish, Hanlon, Stevenson; Egan-Riley, Jeggo; Henderson, Campbell, Kukharevych; Hoppe
Motherwell possible starting lineup:
Kelly; McGinn, Butcher, Casey; Johnston, Cornelius, Goss, Tierney, Furlong; Van Veen, Spittal
We say: Hibernian 2-1 Motherwell
Motherwell's away record is one of the best in the Premiership, but they have won only once on their travels since the turn of the year, thus giving Hibs a slight chance of returning to winning ways on home turf.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
