Brandon Barker was a very popular figure in Leith during his season-long loan spell from Manchester City in 2017-18. In this fixture two years ago, he cracked the woodwork twice.

In the utterly bonkers, Neil-Lennon-aeroplane-celebration-inspiring 5-5 draw, it was Barker's darting run that teed up Jamie Maclaren for Hibs' late, late leveller.

The rapid winger is back at Easter Road tonight in the blue of Rangers, having been snapped up by Steven Gerrard. He might be brought on to terrorise his former team-mates in the latter stages.

Image source, SNS

Gary Caldwell
Former Scotland defender on Sportsound

Having admitted that naming an attack-minded line-up may surrender certain areas of the pitch to a very dynamic Rangers side, Jack Ross explains why he's toting so much heavy artillery.

Stevie Mallan, Martin Boyle, Scott Allan, Christian Doidge and Flo Kamberi give Hibs a mountain of attacking options, but not a great defensive stability.

"Is it worth the risk of playing an attacking side to try and win three points tonight? I think it is," Ross said.

"I think it's the strongest part of our squad. We have players who are good in the forward areas. In the main, since I came in, the players that are playing tonight in an attacking side have contributed goals and assists. At the moment they're all in good form."

Hibernian manager Jack Ross has named an unchanged side from Sunday's 2-0 loss at Celtic Park.

Speaking to BBC Scotland, the head coach explained this decision.

"In the main, since I came in, the performances have been positive," Ross said. "Most of the time results have been as well. There have been very few changes and at the moment the players have enough credit in the bank with what they're producing. So I think they've earned the right to play tonight.

"There's a risk and reward for us tonight. It's an attacking line up. We know that we'll give up certain areas of the park with the way we've set up but we believe we pose a threat as well."

Right, let's conduct an entirely unscientific and inevitably skewed poll that will probably be sabotaged by those of you looking in who don't support either team.

Hit thumbs-up if you reckon it's a Hibs win tonight. Hit thumbs-down if you fancy Rangers to continue their close pursuit of Celtic with another victory.

Rangers gave Hibs an almighty 6-1 pasting at Ibrox way back in August, but in the past few seasons, there has generally been little between the teams.

Neil Lennon's Hibs won twice at Ibrox in 2017-18. The past three meetings at Easter Road have finished in high-octane draws.

Rangers battered Hibs for long spells of the 0-0 and 1-1 matches last term, and of course, on the final day of the season two campaigns ago, the two of them contested a ridiculous 5-5 draw.

Image source, BBC Sport

Jack Ross replaced the struggling and largely unpopular Paul Heckingbottom just over a month ago.

His impact has been pretty positive so far. There are still defensive frailties, and Hibs still to most observers look short of a real destroyer in midfield, but that cannot really be addressed until Ross has the opportunity to recruit.

Meantime, he has overseen wins over Motherwell, Aberdeen and St Mirren, but chucking a 2-0 lead at home to Kilmarnock and slipping to a 2-1 loss at Ross County was pretty grim.

Hibs were competitive at Celtic Park on Sunday, but this, beyond doubt, is Ross' biggest game since taking charge, and one the Hibs fans will be absolutely desperate to win.

Image source, SNS

In a word, very. Alfredo Morelos has been absolutely scintillating this season, rattling in 27 goals in 33 outings.

The Colombian, suspended after his gesture to the Motherwell fans last weekend, has scored 11 league goals so far, just under a quarter of Rangers' total.

Now, Jermain Defoe is hardly a shabby replacement - in fact, he scored a hat-trick against Hibs earlier in the season - but the visitors' ability to thrive without their fulcrum will be pivotal tonight.

Image source, BBC Sport

Jermain Defoe is handed a rare start - his first in almost a month - in place of suspended striker Alfredo Morelos in Rangers' only change from the 2-0 win at Motherwell.

Hibs head coach Jack Ross goes with the same starting line-up from the 2-0 defeat at Celtic.

Image source, SNS

Hibernian: Marciano, Naismith, Porteous, Hanlon, Stevenson, Hallberg, Boyle, Mallan, Allan, Kamberi, Doidge.

Substitutes: Bogdan, Jackson, McGregor, Slivka, Horgan, Murray, Shaw.

Rangers: McGregor, Tavernier, Goldson, Katic, Barisic, Jack, Kamara, Arfield, Aribo, Kent, Defoe.

Substitutes: Foderingham, Edmundson, Halliday, Polster, Ojo, Barker, Stewart.

Right then. The floodlights are on, the teams are warming up and a bumper crowd is starting to file in to Easter Road.

Friday nights in Leith are seldom dull, and Hibernian and Rangers seldom do the mundane.

We've had some blockbuster showdowns between this pair in recent years, and this Christmas cracker should be no different. We'll have all the commentary, analysis and reaction on these pages.

Image source, SNS