Competition keeps O'Connor away from home comfort zone

Released from his difficult spell in England, Garry O'Connor sought home comfort and a return to Easter Road this summer - but it's been far from easy for the homecoming hero, even less so now there is fierce competition for places in the Hibs team.

O'Connor and his team mates are Ayrshire-bound tomorrow for an SPL meeting with Kilmarnock on the back of an opening day defeat to Celtic and a slender victory at Inverness.

The 28-year-old striker expects anything but an easy time in the coming weeks - whether from opposition defences or from Akpo Sodje and fellow new signings Junior Agogo and Phil Airey, the trio all vying with him for a place in the Hibs attack.

"I don't know how the gaffer will use the strikers now - we'll all be fighting for places. I'm in there at the moment and I am determined to stay there," said O'Connor.

"Hopefully I can get a little bit more help now with Junior fit and Phil fit and Akpo only two or three weeks away. So, it will be a tough challenge but I am definitely looking forward to it.

"I've only played a few games but they have been two really hard games.

"We played Celtic and I don't think they were in full gear yet, the game could have gone either way because there were half chances here and there. Inverness was just a slog, a tough game.

"But moving on hopefully we can push Hibs back into the top six - that's our aim."

O'Connor struck in the final minute of Hibs' last SPL outing to earn a 1-0 win at Inverness, but knows he must maintain an impressive strike-rate to retain his place in the team as competition for places intensifies.

He said: "It was a massive win and you have got to take your hat off to the defence for keeping a clean sheet. Everyone knows you can win games with the last kick of the ball and we managed to do that.

"It was massive to get that goal. I had scored a few in pre-season but getting that first goal in the SPL at such a dramatic time, and at a place where we have struggled for years, was huge for me.

"It was great to get back in the green and white colours and score in front of those fans again.

"We are getting to grips with each other and we're starting to gel a bit more. The manager has made a few more additions which will enhance the squad and it's good times just now.

"We have competition for places up front and as a forward you welcome that. I have been struggling on my own up front but big Junior is back fit now so hopefully he will see some part of the game at Kilmarnock."

Agogo may not be the only new face aiming to make his Hibs debut this weekend, with Airey and midfielder Isaiah Osbourne the only other recent signings looking to don the green and white for the first time.

O'Connor welcomes the new blood and is particularly excited at the prospect of Osbourne, a player he knows from his spell at Birmingham while the midfielder was at cross-town rivals Aston Villa.

"I know Ozzy Osbourne from down south, I have played against him a few times. He's a talented kid, he has everything at his feet and he is a great addition to the squad.

"He's a Patrick Vieira type - he plays exactly like him. He doesn't give the ball away cheaply.

"He soaks the ball up in midfield, he'll get forward into the box. He has good energy, a good range of passing and when he was down south in the reserves at Aston Villa he scored a lot of goals too. He's going to be a big prospect for us."

Kilmarnock, who have so far posted draws against Dundee United and Motherwell - the two teams to have beaten Hearts in the SPL - are expected to present a formidable challenge to Hibs tomorrow. O'Connor thinks patience will act as the key to unlocking the hosts' defence at Rugby Park.

"We've seen a few videos of Kilmarnock and they try to play total football to the extreme sometimes," he said. "If we can just sit back, soak the play up and then try and hit them the way they do to other teams. It will be a funny kind of game, maybe we'll just wait and bide our time until we get our opportunity.

"But it's going to be a tough game down there. They beat us twice down there last season so we need to drill into the boys that it will be a tough game and try and get a victory."

Boss Colin Calderwood says his Hibs players must also be mindful of the threat that Killie carry in attack.

"I think they've got people that can certainly create chances and score goals, and it will be a test.

"We were beaten twice there last year and because we've missed a (league) game last weekend it's important we take at least a point from it, and if we can take three it will put us in a nice position.

"I think it will be quite an open game," added the Hibs boss.

"The anticipation of what three points would do for us will keep us right at it and I know the boys are excited and looking forward to the match on Sunday."