Hibs face local rivals Hearts in today’s lunchtime Scottish Premiership clash – a game that can be watched live on BT Sport (kick off 12:45pm).
Vital Hibs take a look at some of the pre match quotes from both camps ahead of a crucial match which sees the Hibees aim to secure their second victory of the season over Gary Locke’s outfit.
Kevin Thomson : “Let`s not beat about the bush, this is a huge game and it should be built up as a huge game.
“People should be anticipating it, training has to be of an intensity and the boys realise what is at stake. And if we put in a performance we know this team is capable of, then I believe we can win on Sunday.
“There should be pressure on you every day as a player because it makes you a better player.
“On a personal note I want to be the one who sticks his chest out, gets on that pitch and grabs the game by the scruff of the neck.”
Terry Butcher : “You can`t be soft in derby matches, that`s for sure – and we won`t be. In the preparations this week, you can sense it`s a derby game straight away.
“There`s an eagerness, a desire and a spring in players` steps. In a way, there`s no need for motivation for this one. If you`re not up for a derby match, with the circumstances surrounding this one, you will never be.
“We`re all very much focused and we`re all together, probably more so now than ever before. It`s probably taken a poor run and the fact it`s a derby match to get everybody really together.”
Duncan Watmore : “There will be that edge you only get in a derby, they`ll be coming here aiming to win just as we will be looking for the three points and then aiming to build on that and pull ourselves away from the danger zone.”
James McPake : ‘We`re in a rut and don`t want to be in this situation. We experienced a similar scenario two years ago and scraped by.
‘It`s not a nice position to be in. We have a decent squad of players but we have left ourselves down.
‘We need to stick the chests out and show a bit of dig and drag ourselves out of it. We have to be a bit more ruthless and I am confident we can get out of trouble again.
‘Hopefully on Sunday we get all three points against Hearts and get the win that will ensure our top-flight safety.’
Gary Locke : “It will be a really tough game, all the Edinburgh derbies are the same, it doesn`t matter what the form is going into it, who is doing well and who is doing not so well. The derbies are completely different.
“We know we are in for a really difficult game. I certainly don`t buy into their current form. People say we are favourites but I don`t buy into that. Hibs are above us in the league and they have a really good squad of players. They have a really good management team I have a lot of respect for.”
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