Key battles will decide Terrors’ fate

TOMORROW evening’s clash of Championship pacesetters Hibs and Dundee United could be a defining moment of the season in the second tier.

Ray McKinnon’s Tangerines head for the capital on the back of a disappointing defeat at Dumbarton but buoyed by the knowledge they’ve already drawn at Easter Road.

They won when the pair clashed at Tannadice at the beginning of last month and know a repeat of that result would catapult them back to the top of the table.

The Hibees, though, will be eyeing the chance to open a four-point gap on their main promotion rivals.

That makes this the biggest date in the Championship so far.

Tonight we take a look at the key battles likely to decide the destination of the points.

William Edjenguele v Grant Holt

A real battle of the giants as United’s big centre-half looks to again put the shackles on Hibs’ strong front man.

Edjenguele has been a colossus at the heart of McKinnon’s defence since he signed up at the end of August and, along with Mark Durnan, did a great job of keeping Holt quiet in that Tannadice victory.

The vastly-experienced Holt remains a major threat but, if the Frenchman can repeat the job he did, then it will negate one of the home side’s most potent attacking threats and go a long way towards making this another good night for the Tangerines.

Willo Flood v Kris Commons

Without doubt a key confrontation in the middle of the pitch will be this clash of two men with English Premier League experience.

Flood was used further forward at Dumbarton last weekend but is likely to be back alongside Stewart Murdoch in a more defensive role for this one.

Commons, on loan from Celtic, is likely to be given licence by Hibs boss Neil Lennon to roam the attacking third of the park but will be at his most dangerous in the central areas.

As well as picking him up there, a