Heart of Midlothian v Celtic

THERE are now almost as many candidates for the vacant head coach's position at Celtic as there are riders saddling up for the big one at Aintree, but while the Grand National field will be decimated over the course of this afternoon, it is certain that a few will join the chasing pack for the Parkhead post in the coming weeks.

One, however, appears to have fallen at the first hurdle. Atletico Bilbao manager Luis Fernandez was again linked with the club, having been one of the bookies' favourites prior to Wim Jansen's appointment three years ago, but his odds have lengthened after interim head coach Kenny Dalglish reiterated his stance that nobody has been approached directly in connection with the vacancy, and that Fernandez has not informed the club directly of his interest.

Short shrift was also given to the suggestion that former Rangers manager Graeme Souness, the new man at the helm of ailing Blackburn Rovers, was poised to come a-hunting for two of the club's least expendable commodities, top scorer Mark Viduka and record signing Eyal Berkovic, who has returned to favour in impressive fashion.

Clearly tired by the name game, Dalglish again slipped into automatic pilot - not for the last time, either - to respond to the latest names being bandied about. Dalglish, or for that matter the strangely silent chief executive, Allan MacDonald, will not reveal the identity of the new man until they themselves know his identity and, judging by Dalglish's recent comment that the list of potential replacements for John Barnes resembles a telephone directory, that could take some time.

Of more immediate concern is patching together a team to take on Hearts, who enjoyed a 3-2 victory the last time the sides met, at Celtic Park back in February. Dalglish welcomes back Vidar Riseth, who had come down with a bug, rarely sighted #5m defender Rafael, and youngster Colin Healy, who had been rested recently. However, Olivier Tebily is still on international duty with the Ivory Coast and four of those involved in the 4-0 defeat of Motherwell in midweek are struggling with various ailments, although Dalglish declined to reveal their identities.

Local boy Stephen Crainey may hang on to his starting slot after an impressive match against Motherwell, but 16-year-old John Kennedy, who came on as a substitute, is likely to be excused from two dream-laden nights inside a week.

''We are not going to go anywhere and get an easy game and Hearts will be looking forward to Europe, but so were Motherwell and we did our job then,'' said Dalglish.

Meanwhile, Hearts manager Jim Jefferies said that his side's 3-2 win over Celtic at Parkhead in February was one of their best results of the season and, with third place in the league and the subsequent place in the UEFA Cup that brings still up for grabs, the Hearts manager realises the importance of today's fixture.

The Tynecastle side have had eight clean sheets in the last 10 games and lost only five goals in the league since the winter break, partly due to the form of Antti Niemi, who has missed the last two games through injury and who returns to the squad.

Jefferies refused to say if he would come straight back into the side in place of Gilles Rousset, who played in the no-scoring draws against Motherwell and Dundee, but it is likely that the Finn will regain his place.

The Hearts coach dismissed suggestions that Celtic had nothing left to play for this season and felt they would be fired up for the game. ''I hear Kenny had said earlier that his player's had their futures to think of and I agree with that and all the players will be giving their best,'' said Jefferies.

''From our point of view, it is a huge game considering we still want to qualify for Europe and teams like Motherwell, Dundee United, and Hibs will be thinking the same thing.

''We have Celtic today, then Rangers at home on Wednesday, so obviously it is an important time for us.''

One man who will be looking forward to the game is Hearts captain Colin Cameron, who has had a chequered time in the three games between the clubs this season. He has scored three times but blotted his copybook after getting sent off for elbowing Johan Mjallby in a defeat at Tynecastle, but his most important contribution was scoring the winning penalty in the 3-2 win at Parkhead.

Another man with a point to prove is Fitzroy Simpson, who has struggled to get into the Hearts side and is likely to start on the bench. The midfielder believes that, at present, Rangers are way ahead of Celtic and the Parkhead club have to stay focused on improving their own game, rather than worrying about their Ibrox rivals.

Despite that, Simpson realises the quality Celtic have in their ranks and admitted that they will be a difficult side to beat.

BOOKIES' VIEW: Hearts 11-4, Celtic 10-11, draw 5-2.