Chris Hogg relishing Tynecastle test as he maintains sights on third place

Published on Thursday 18 March 2010 22:09

LAST weekend was not the best of times for Hibernian. While they were toiling to a draw at home to Ross County in the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup, Motherwell were beating Hearts to go above the Easter Road side into fourth place in the SPL.

For a team who have high hopes of finishing third in the league and had to that point been buoyed by some extremely favourable draws in the cup, those two results could have been ominous. They have the chance to rectify their failings in the cup when they travel to Dingwall for the replay next week, however, and will also reclaim fourth place in the league if they win tomorrow's Edinburgh derby at Tynecastle.

Hibs captain Chris Hogg, for one, still believes he and his team-mates should be aiming for the target of third place that manager John Hughes has set them. "That should be the expectation at this football club," he said.

"I've said all along this season that we are a work in progress with a new management team, but with the squad of players we have and with the way we play at times, that should be the lowest of our expectations.

"I don't think league positions mean a lot at this stage. We've still got a game in hand and if we win that we go above Motherwell. But I'm not too concerned about them going above us at the moment. We just need to win our games."

Hogg is one of those professionals who likes to treat every game as equally important. In terms of enjoyment, though, he admitted that playing against Hearts in Gorgie was second to none.

"This is my favourite game of the year, going to Tynecastle. I love the atmosphere there and the rivalry the two clubs have got.

"If you don't want to play in these games you shouldn't be playing football. We have a bunch of boys who have played on bigger stages as well, no disrespect to us and Hearts, so they'll be going into this match fully prepared and knowing what to expect.

"It's nice to see our fans pack that stand, and we have a good away vocal support. That spurs you on, but for me it's like going into the lion's den, and coming out with some points is a real satisfaction."

If Hibs lose tomorrow and then in the cup, this two-game sequence over the next few days could end up defining their season.

"It could do, but people were saying that in December," Hogg countered. "We want to finish third and that means winning football games, starting on Saturday."

&#149 Exclusive high-definition coverage of the Edinburgh derby begins at 12 noon tomorrow on Sky Sports HD 3.

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