Defiant Hibs boss calls on players to thrive in Euro cauldron

The Easter Road side can move above Motherwell with victory in Lanarkshire in the penultimate game of the SPL season, but a defeat would secure fourth place for Craig Brown's men.

It is make or break for the Hibs' Europa League hopes but Hughes believes that his players can put the weight of expectation on their shoulders to good use.

Yogi wants his side to turn the pressure into a motivational tool to spur them on to victory and said: "It depends who scores the first goal. But even in football when other teams have scored the first goal against us, there's plenty times when I've said to Brian that's what the game needs. Sometimes it gets the best out of you.

"I'm looking forward to it. I am.

"I really enjoyed the game on Saturday. I've seen us play better football matches, and there's a real disappointment with the result, but I really enjoyed it – even in defeat. I think we've been playing some great stuff. At Parkhead we took the game to Celtic, lost a late goal. Rangers – gave as good as we got, ball retention really good. Hearts – I felt for a good 60 minutes we were playing some good stuff.

"So that's why I'm looking forward to the next two games. I really am.

"It's exactly where we want to be – I want to be involved in these games."

Darren McCormack and Kevin McBride are both available for the trip to Fir Park tonight after serving suspensions, while Sol Bamba serves the final game of his three-match ban.

Meanwhile Hughes insisted that he would be happy to take his current squad of players into next season – but admitted that he would like to add some physical presence to his midfield.

He continued: "I still think I can get something more out of this bunch of boys. As a coach and a manager, the best ones get the best out of players and mould them into something you want.

"There's still a lot of work to be done with these guys. I wouldn't mind getting one or two in to help them along the way.

"I wouldn't mind a bigger physical presence and maybe a wee bit more experience.

"But I can sit here and talk. You tell me a player and I'll go and get him.

"It's as hard as that. In terms of the club and the recruitment we do, it's really hard work.

"You just need to be patient and make sure you're bringing the right one to the club."