Hearts will be without suspended defender Jose Goncalves for Saturday's Clydesdale Bank Premier League trip to Kilmarnock.

David Kucharski and Eggert Jonsson are vying to deputise for Goncalves, who was sent off in last weekend's 2-1 defeat against St Johnstone.

Striker Calum Elliot should finally return to the squad after his knee operation and Laryea Kingston has also been declared fit but Hearts remain without Marius Zaliukas (ankle), Andrew Driver (knee), Suso Santana (hernia) and David Templeton (foot), though the latter is close to a comeback.

Kilmarnock skipper Kevin Kyle will have stitches removed from a face wound before the game.

The Killie striker picked up the injury in last week's defeat by Rangers at Ibrox but manager Jim Jefferies is confident he will declare himself fit for the visit of the Jambos.

Defender Simon Ford is getting back to full fitness following his recovery from a knee injury but the game has come too early for him.

Teams:

Kilmarnock (from): Mark Brown, O'Leary, Hay, Fowler, Wright, Hamill, Skelton, Taouil, Bryson, Pascali, Owens, Kyle, Russell, Fernandez, Bell, Flannigan, Old, Kelly.

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