Ian Black is suspended and Hearts have a host of fitness concerns.
David Templeton (ankle), Adrian Mrowiec (knee), Jamie Hamill (leg) and Danny Grainger, who was granted leave to be with his pregnant wife, have all failed to play a full part in training this week, but could feature against the Dons.
Andy Webster and Mehdi Taouil (both groin) are still struggling for fitness, while Stephen Elliott (dead leg) and David Obua (hamstring) are out along with long-term absentees Kevin Kyle (hip) and Calum Elliot (knee).
Aberdeen welcome Ryan Jack back from suspension, while Chris Clark (knee) and Youl Mawene (hamstring) are poised to return from injuries.
Peter Pawlett could play despite suffering a strain while on Scotland Under-21 duty but Fraser Fyvie (groin) withdrew from the Scotland Under-21 squad in midweek and could again miss out for the Dons.
Hearts (from): Kello, McGowan, Zaliukas, Jonsson, Grainger, Mrowiec, Templeton, Stevenson, Sutton, Balogh, MacDonald, Smith, Barr, Skacel, Novikovas, Hamill, Robinson, Driver.
Aberdeen (from): Gonzalez, Foster, Considine, Arnason, Robertson, Magennis, Paton, Milsom, Osbourne, Pawlett, Megginson, Vernon, Low , Mackie, Jason Brown, McArdle, Jordan Brown, Fraser, Clark, Mawene, Fyvie, Jack.
