John Hughes draws a line under Hibs' pre-split form as he plans a grand finale

JOHN Hughes wants his Hibernian squad to treat their five post-split matches as a season in miniature, in the hope that by focusing on how much they have to play for they can recapture their best form.

Hibs, who visit Celtic tomorrow, are nine points behind third-placed Dundee United and only two clear of Motherwell, who are fifth. With only a top-four finish guaranteeing European qualification, Hughes, pictured, needs a revival of fortunes to keep his team ahead of the Fir Park side and of Hearts, who are a further four points adrift.

"There's five games to go to try and get a few wins to hopefully get us into Europe," the manager said yesterday. "We're trying to get back to winning ways and working hard towards keeping clean sheets and being harder to beat, and show a spirit we showed when we last played Celtic at Parkhead."

Hibs picked up three points on their last visit to Celtic Park, and played commendably in losing 1-0 at home to the Glasgow team a fortnight ago. Although his team then lost 4-1 at Hamilton, Hughes hopes that they can be inspired by the way they played in those two games against Celtic. "The last time we played Celtic I thought we got a good reaction," he continued. "We came off a bad result in the game before against Dundee United and you're looking for a spark and a reaction. And I felt we got a good reaction and then it's dipped again.

"From now until the end of the season the message I'm putting around the dressing room is to be spirited about everything we do. Let's stick together, be spirited and try and get that European spot.

"Even in football as a manager if you're seeing the stuff you're working on and the application and all the stuff is right as it was against Celtic at Easter Road then even in defeat you say 'Well done boys'. I felt we tried to pass it.

"You're looking for that consistency throughout the season. The first-half of the season the boys were brilliant, the second-half has been up and down resulting in us not getting results.

"Five games to go, we're looking to draw a line and go from here. Let's start again from now until the end of the season and make sure we're competitive and spirited and see where it takes us. We know what we're up against come Saturday but we'll go there and if we can get one or two back we'll give it a right go."

Hibs midfielder Liam Miller is suspended for the trip to his former club, but the injury list at Easter Road is getting shorter. David Wotherspoon, Chris Hogg, Kevin McBride and Patrick Cregg are back in training, and some of them at least should be in the squad for tomorrow's game. "Hopefully they'll come through it unscathed and be available for selection," Hughes added.

Besides being displeased by the result at New Douglas Park last weekend, some Hibs supporters were upset by what they perceived as the overly light-hearted attitude of some players during the warm-down. Hughes, however, suggested there was nothing wrong with players enjoying that aspect of their work.

"If they're enjoying the warm down, then good on them, because that's what you're meant to do," he said. "It's there to enjoy. It's there for a reason. It's there for part of your recovery process."

One of the main problems facing Hughes appears to be which of his goalkeepers is the most reliable, but he indicated he was in no hurry to decide the matter. "I want competition. Give me four centre-halves, two right-backs, two left-backs, six midfielders, four strikers, four wingers, two left, two right. Competition for places.

"Is that not everyone's dream? Whose Jose Mourinho's No1?

"All my goalkeepers are different class. Love them all."

• ESPN have confirmed they will show the final Edinburgh derby of the season live on Saturday, 1 May with a 12.30pm kick-off.