On the face of it, there is no reason why not. Yes, the goals we lost in mid-week were bad and Kuban made us look poor but this is what happens when you face a superior side. Kuban – in a manner all too similar to Nancy, Panathinaikos and Levante before them – strangled our attacking outlets and left just enough pressure on our defence that their extra quality would eventually tell. Hibs are not in the same league.
But they are a wounded animal, coming off the back of a humiliating 9-0 thrashing by Malmo. They have added Michael Nelson to their defence this week but Clancy, McGivern, McPake and Forster are missing which limits their options in the back four, and Cairney and Vine are also unavailable. They have signed striker James Collins for a fee equating to a king's ransom in modern Scottish football. This is clearly an attempt to replace the 'one man' part of the 'one man team' who returned to Wolves on loan this summer.
From our point of view, we have everyone available and will have to make some interesting choices. No one covered themselves in glory against Kuban although costly individual mistakes from Lawson and Hammell may ensure a nervous time for them before the team sheet is read out. Carswell, Anier and McHugh will all feel a starting chance is not undeserved.
This is not a simple start to the season and we saw last year Europe is a distraction, no matter how fleeting our appearance there. A 1-1 draw with a weakened Hibs side would not be a great result but it would not be a disaster either.
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