Hibernian are back in Scottish Premiership action this weekend as they host Motherwell, looking to build on their first league win of the season against St Johnstone last time out at Easter Road, and a promising performance against Rangers six days ago. 

Martin Boyle is unlikely to feature as he continues his recovery from surgery on his wrist while Kieron Bowie is a long-term absentee. Luke Amos and Nicky Cadden returned to training this week after nursing knocks and were joined by club captain Joe Newell who also went under the knife recently. 

Head coach David Gray has a number of players at his disposal and a couple missing - so who gets the nod in his starting XI? Here, Patrick McPartlin and Liam Bryce analyse how Hibs could line up.

Liam Bryce

​It feels like something of a betrayal to drop players who put in such a tireless shift at Ibrox last weekend, but I do feel that was a horses-for-courses selection on David Gray’s part, and that a tough yet winnable home game calls for more firepower.

Josh Campbell was an unsung hero in how Hibs largely kept Rangers at bay, defending selflessly from the front, but I’ve been keen to see a midfield three of Nectar Triantis, Kwon Hyeok-kyu and Joe Newell again since they linked up well against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park. Triantis is more than capable of being a lone number six, and there’s potential in deploying Kwon and Newell as two more advanced eights.

Bringing Élie Youan back in at the expense of Chris Cadden on the right is harsh, but it’s time to try and get him firing. On form, he is the biggest threat in Hibs’ arsenal, and the next step for this side is to start putting the ball in the net. Hibs have scored just five goals in the Premiership so far, and that calls for playing the best attacking players in their best positions.

There’s a real case for keeping Cadden in the side at the expense of Lewis Miller at right-back, but the Australian’s physical presence will be needed against a Motherwell side that is very dangerous from set-pieces.

(Image: Newsquest) With both Caddens, Campbell, Rudi Molotnikov, Dylan Levitt and Dwight Gayle among the forward-thinking options on the bench, Gray has plenty depth with which to try and influence the game. It's never just about the starting XI these days.

My XI: Bursik; Miller, Ekpiteta, O’Hora, Obita; Triantis, Kwon, Newell; Hoilett, Kukharevych, Youan.

Patrick McPartlin

I share Liam's sentiments regarding last week's line-up at Rangers in terms of dropping players who did well at a tough venue but I don't think David Gray is particularly sentimental when it comes to picking a team he thinks has the best chance of winning a game. 

A number of his predecessors in the Easter Road hot seat were undone by an obstinance when it came to team selection for certain games and he has so far shown a desire to choose both tactics and personnel best suited for the opposition. 

That's why I think he'll return to a more attacking 433 (or 4231) set-up, given it's a winnable home game and he has the bodies for a more attacking set-up. It just depends on who he picks. 

I think the back five (Josef Bursik plus four defenders) picks itself. Lewis Miller didn't cover himself in glory in the lead-up to Tom Lawrence's goal, but his height and physicality could be useful against a direct Motherwell side.

Kwon Hyeok-kyu and Nectar Triantis will surely continue in midfield; the big question is who joins them in there. It would be tempting to throw Joe Newell straight back in but Gray famously doesn't risk players and even though the Englishman is the club captain, I wonder if he might start on the bench. If Newell starts I imagine it will be a 433; if he is named among the subs I can see it being more of a 4231, which opens up a spot for a number ten, which would seem to be a straight shoot-out between Josh Campbell, and Rudi Molotnikov. Campbell started at Ibrox, playing off Mykola Kukharevych in attack, while Molotnikov was an unused substitute. Either could feasibly start against Motherwell but I think Molotnikov might get the nod. 

I could understand Élie Youan getting a start as he continues his comeback from injury but I'm not convinced Gray thinks he's ready just yet. Chris Cadden performed well at Ibrox and I fancy him to stay on the right flank with Junior Hoilett on the left supporting Kukharevych up top. 

(Image: Newsquest) That leaves a bench chock-full of options that could include Campbell, Newell, Youan, Rocky Bushiri, Nicky Cadden, Dylan Levitt, Nathan Moriah-Welsh, and Dwight Gayle. As Liam says, it's not just about the starting XI, it's about those who can come on and impact the game as well. 

My XI: Bursik; Miller, Ekpiteta, O'Hora, Obita; Kwon, Triantis; C Cadden, Molotnikov, Hoilett; Kukharevych.