St Mirren v Hibernian

[OwenWright]

Hibernian caretaker-manager Tommy Craig expects left-back David Murphy to be available for the trip to face St Mirren at Love Street after shaking off a hamstring injury and a midweek illness.

Right-back Kevin McCann is also poised to return from a hamstring problem in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League game after returning to training this week.

However, the third hamstring victim in the squad, Abdessalam Benjelloun, remains a fortnight away from fitness and top scorer Steven Fletcher will not be back for another month because of ankle ligament damage.

St Mirren welcome back Will Haining, Andy Millen and Craig Dargo.

Haining returns after a hamstring injury, Millen has recovered from a toe problem and Dargo is back from a slight muscle strain.

Stephen O'Donnell and Richard Brittain remain unfit while captain Hugh Murray completes a two-game suspension.

Hibernian face a trip to St. Mirren at St Mirren Park on Saturday afternoon, hoping to improve upon an average previous return from this fixture. Of the 107 games played, The Hibees have recorded 34 wins, and St. Mirren have come away with 47 victories.

The most recent encounter between these two sides was less than a year ago, in April 2007, where the two sides shared the spoils courtesy of a 1-1 final scoreline in a Scottish Premier match.

Recent encounters...
2007/2008	Sat 27 Oct	Hibernian	0 - 1	St. Mirren	SPL
2006/2007	Wed 04 Apr	St. Mirren	1 - 1	Hibernian	SPL
2006/2007	Sat 23 Dec	Hibernian	5 - 1	St. Mirren	SPL
2006/2007	Sat 30 Sep	St. Mirren	1 - 0	Hibernian	SPL
2004/2005	Sat 26 Feb	Hibernian	2 - 0	St. Mirren	SC
2000/2001	Sat 10 Feb	Hibernian	4 - 2	St. Mirren	SPL
2000/2001	Sat 25 Nov	St. Mirren	1 - 1	Hibernian	SPL

St. Mirren's dreadful home form has resulted in just 1 victory and 1 draw from their last six played. Buddies have conceded a disappointing 12 goals in this period, and managed to convert only 3 of their own chances.

Hibernian's away form is none too clever either, accumulating just 1 victory and 1 draw from their last six played. While the The Hibees have hit 5 goals, 10 have hit the back of the wrong net.

St. Mirren are hovering perilously just above the relegation zone, with 19 points from 19 matches. Hibernian see themselves just below half way in the Clydesdale Bank Scottish Premier, showing a record of 28 points from their 20 games played so far.

Current form guides:	P	W	D	L	F	A	P
St. Mirren	6	1	2	3	3	10	5
Hibernian	6	0	2	4	5	11	2

St. Mirren	Failed to win in previous 4 home matches.
Hibernian	Not won in previous 4 away matches. An overall losing run of 2 games. No win in the 7 most recent games.