Friendly provides Hibs with valuable test before derby showdown

Three successive weekends earmarked for the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup, the final of the Cooperative Insurance Cup and, finally, international action have left Hibs without a competitive game since March 5 with their next, the Edinburgh derby on April 3, still more than a fortnight away.

Their interest in the Scottish Cup ended at the first time of asking by Second Division Ayr United, Hibs knew they'd be idle again this weekend with their intended SPL opponents Celtic involved in the CIS Cup final against Rangers at Hampden on Sunday.

But in a cruel twist of fate their game against Celtic, brought forward to this midweek, had to again be rearranged after the Hoops' Scottish Cup clash with Inverness Caley last weekend was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

While Hibs have moved quickly to fill the void by arranging a friendly against Irish side Bohemians in Edinburgh on Monday, assistant manager Adams admitted the Capital outfit had been left in a far from ideal situation with all their SPL rivals enjoying, in the main, an uninterrupted schedule.

However, he insisted there was little he and manager Colin Calderwood could do other than make the most of things. The Bohemians match, however, he believes won't only help break up the daily training routine but give the Easter Road squad a competitive outing against a side which sits top of their own League albeit they are just two games into the new season. The former Ross County boss said: "The fact the Irish League matches are played on a Friday night offered us that wee window of opportunity."It's difficult to organise games, even reserve matches when teams are playing every week so we are delighted Bohemians agreed to come across.

"The Irish League is of a good standard, just look over the years and see the number of players from over there who have arrived not only in the Scottish game but in England, we've got a few ourselves at the moment in Liam Miller, Richie Towell and Kurtis Byrne."

With Paul Hanlon, David Wotherspoon and Callum Booth away on international duty with Scotland's Under-21 squad, Billy Stark's side heading for Belgium as they continue their preparations for the start of their next European campaign, Hibs will be forced into a number of changes although Icelandic kid Victor Palsson and Dublin-born Towell will be available before they, too, depart to pull on the colours of their respective countries later in the week.

Adams, though, insisted changes will be restricted although he anticipates more than the regulation three substitutes being utilised during the 90 minutes by both sides.

He said: "There will be an opportunity for some who have been on the fringes to come in and stake a claim but I don't think there will be too many changes from the team that has been playing in the recent past.

"Not having a game for so long has made it difficult for us but now we have Monday night which will be great for the boys as it gives them a game."

Adams revealed the break had also resulted in Hibs only having Graham Stack on the injured list, the goalkeeper having undergone an operation on his damaged right shoulder on Wednesday, with Michael Hart, Danny Galbraith and Steven Thicot having all recovered from the problems they'd been enduring and now back in full training.

He said: "We've been able to do a bit of fitness work and also been able to give them a wee rest. The training has been more extensive over the last period of time, we can get a bit of sharpness and fitness into them without having to worry about a game on a Saturday which has been great from my point of view. From the player's point of view, probably not." Everything, Adams insisted, was geared towards the visit of Hearts a fortnight on Sunday, a game which heralds a a hectic programme of three games in six days with trips to Celtic and Aberdeen to follow.

The irony of such a prolonged period of inactivity followed by such a gruelling schedule wasn't lost on Adams but, he declared, there would be no complaints from Easter Road although he conceded Hearts will enjoy the benefit of having had regular games.

He said: "It's not an ideal situation, the other teams have been playing while we have had a break. But there's nothing you can do about it, there's the Scottish Cup, this weekend's final and then the international match against Brazil.

"Then you get the cancellation of the Cup tie between Inverness and Celtic which forces our game against Celtic to go off."It's just happened that way."

While most will wonder whether the head of steam Hibs had been building, five straight wins and a draw lifting them well clear of the threat of relegation, may have dissipated by the time Hearts come calling, Adams refused to speculate on what might happen, other than to insist the long list of Hibs players who will be contemplating their first Edinburgh derby won't be fazed by the occasion.

He said: "If we go into the Hearts game and win then it's plain sailing, or you look at it the other way and can make excuses. We have to deal with the situation as we have it and do the best we can.

"Our last six games have gone very well and we would like to maintain the impetus we have."

Adams' own first experience of the Capital derby ended in disappointment, Kevin Kyle's late header on New Year's Day at Tynecastle clinching all three points for Hearts but, he insisted, it was still an occasion to remember.

He said: "I thought we were unfortunate not to take something last time even although they scored late on. These are always great affairs and I'm sure the new ones will enjoy their first, playing to a full house at Easter Road,

"Although Hearts played well on New Year's Day when you get so near you feel it was unfortunate to have lost but it was still a fantastic spectacle to watch and to be part of."