Derek Riordan, the former Hibernian forward, has acknowledged that the Edinburgh derby on Sunday will be made more significant for supporters of the Leith side if they are able to confirm Hearts' relegation from the SPFL Premiership.

It is a prospect which Riordan is aware of and the 31-year-old - who has signed for Alloa Athletic until the end of the season - is disappointed that he will not be involved in the match. He grew up a Hibernian fan and there has been no love lost between him and the Hearts support over the years.

He is certain that his fellow fans will be desperate for Hibs to confirm Hearts' relegation from the top flight, though.

"As a Hibs fan and a [former] player, I'd love to go out there and put the final nail in the coffin and relegate them," he said. "It'll go down in history if Hibs can put Hearts down.

"There would be nothing more special for the Hibs fans than Hearts getting relegated. After all they've gone through, it would at least give the fans something back if Hibs could relegate Hearts.

"The big money Hearts were spending was always going to catch up with them. It was just a matter of time, so in a way they deserve it," added Riordan.