SPL fixtures: Hearts and Hibs set for early new season meeting

HIBS and Hearts will clash on the second weekend of the new SPL season, less than three months after bringing down the curtain on the last campaign with the first all-Edinburgh Scottish Cup final in 116 years.

The Capital teams will meet at Easter Road, but although the game is scheduled for Saturday, August 11, no-one would be surprised if kick-off was switched to allow the match to be shown live on television.

Tynecastle will host the New Year’s Day derby on Wednesday, January 2, while Hearts cross the city to meet their city neighbours for a third time on Saturday, March 9.

Hearts will open their new season by playing host to St Johnstone on Saturday, August 4, but Hibs fans will have to wait another 24 hours to see Pat Fenlon’s side in action, their game against Dundee United at Tannadice pencilled in to play on the Sunday of that weekend as the Tayside club’s Europa League campaign will have them playing the previous Thursday.

The uncertainty surrounding the future of Rangers means they doesn’t appear in the fixture schedule issued today, their name replaced by “Club 12” which leaves Kilmarnock wondering whether it will be the Glasgow side or perhaps Dunfermline or Dundee who visit Rugby Park on the first day.

Hearts are due to play “Club 12” at home on September 2 while Hibs will travel to face whichever side that happens to be on November 17.

Hibs will be the first of the Edinburgh club’s to face SPL new boys Ross County, Fenlon’s players making the long journey to Dingwall on October 20 before Staggies’ boss Derek Adams brings his side to Tynecastle the following weekend.