Boss must change plans as Celtic postponement leaves Hibs idle

The game at Celtic Park had to make way for the Scottish Cup quarter-final between Inverness Caley and Neil Lennon's side following the cancellation of that match on Saturday because of a water-logged pitch.

Now Hibs, who last played on March 5 when they drew 1-1 with St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park, aren't anticipating being back in action until they face Hearts at home in the third Edinburgh derby of the season on Sunday, April 3.

The SPL were unable to immediately give Hibs a date for the rescheduled match with Celtic, next week having been designated for international fixtures. And given the other three quarter-final ties involving St Mirren, Aberdeen, Brechin City, Saints, Dundee United and Motherwell have all gone to replays, a contingency date will have to be made for such an eventuality should Wednesday night's cup tie at the Caley Stadium similarly finish in stalemate.

While he had welcomed the 11 day break between the match in Perth and the trip to Glasgow following a hectic programme of three matches in eight days, Hibs stretching their unbeaten run to six matches as they powered away from the threat of relegation, Calderwood's plans had been based around his team being in action again this mid-week.

He had revealed that after that game "we will go through one or two different options and variations in what we can do." Now, however, the former Scotland defender will no doubt be forced into revamping his plans, the irony of having four weeks without a game at a time when the likes of United are having to play four games in little more than a week not lost on the Hibs boss. Hibs expect to hear today as to when the Celtic match will be played but director of marketing and communications, Fife Hyland, said: "We can't see it being until well into April. We will have to do something in terms of games, and will be seeking to organise some more bounce games.

"It's frustrating, but there is nothing we can do about it. The Cup takes priority so we just have to grin and bear it."

Calderwood knows, however, that bounce games are no substitute for competitive action.