Stevie Hammell is again expected to miss out for Motherwell when they face Hearts in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

The left-back sat out the double header against St Mirren with a hamstring injury.

Paul Slane (calf) also remains on the sidelines but Well have no fresh injury worries.

Hearts have been rocked by the news Marius Zaliukas could be out until mid-December, with his ankle injury much worse than first hoped.

The defender has not played for the club for more than a month and was planning to return soon but a specialist has advised he spends another six to seven weeks on the sidelines.

Manager Csaba Laszlo also confirmed winger Suso Santana will undergo hernia surgery next week but will play on Saturday.

Goalkeeper Marian Kello is back from a shoulder injury, but Ian Black (hamstring) is 50-50, while Laryea Kingston (hamstring), Callum Elliot (knee) and David Templeton (foot) remain sidelined.

Teams:

Motherwell (from): Ruddy, Moutaouakil, Reynolds, Craigan, Hutchinson, Saunders, Hateley, Coke, Forbes, O'Brien, Humphrey, Murphy, Jutkiewicz, Sutton, Jennings, Lasley, McHugh, Kosiorowski.

Hearts (from): Balogh, Jonsson, Kucharski, Bouzid, Goncalves, Santana, Palazuelos, Obua, Black, Witteveen, Nade, Wallace, Driver, C Thomson, J Thomson, Mole, Novikovas, J Stewart, Glen, Kello.