Scotland left-back Lee Wallace has bruising on his ankle and missed training on Thursday, but Hearts are optimistic he could be fit for the Tynecastle tussle.
Kevin Kyle (groin) and Calum Elliot (knee) are again set to miss out.
Dundee United have doubts over Craig Conway and Morgaro Gomis.
The pair picked up knocks against Celtic last Sunday and have only done minimal training this week. Boss Peter Houston will give the influential pair late fitness tests.
United will be definitely be without long-term injury-victims Mihael Kovacevic (knee), Darren Dods (knee) and Scott Severin (ankle).
Hearts (from): Kello, Bouzid, Zaliukas, Stevenson, Palazuelos, Black, Driver, Elliott, Skacel, Glen, Jonsson, Mrowiec, C Thomson, Wallace, Obua, J Thomson, Santana, Balogh, Webster.
Dundee Utd (from): Pernis, Dillon, Kenneth, Van der Maulen, Watson, Douglas, Swanson, Gomis, Conway, Buaben, Armstrong, S Robertson, D Robertson, Conway, Goodwillie, Russell, Banks, Dow, Smith.
