John Hughes quick to give County their due as he focuses minds

• "We know the importance of the match. But I say: 'Bring it on'" John Hughes

The manager went to extremes yesterday when praising the opponents Hibs are expected to bury tomorrow afternoon, in a campaign that has treated the club well to date.

The smooth passage past Irvine Meadow and Montrose in previous rounds has encouraged even the most fearful Hibs fan to think that this could finally be their year. Tomorrow's opponents, Ross County, are a much more awkward proposition, although Hibs have again been handed the advantage of a home draw.

Hughes, however, has been doing his utmost to prevent complacency setting in. Earlier this week he labelled the tie as Hibs' biggest match of the season, and yesterday the manager made a point of saluting the rise of Ross County, despite their bid for promotion from the First Division having suffered a setback on Tuesday night when they lost to Raith Rovers.

But Hughes has not been blinded by this result in Kirkcaldy and saw for himself the threat which Ross County will pose tomorrow. The marks of quality he observed were what he expected from a club he has admired from afar since his first days on the coaching staff at Falkirk.

"The reason I speak so highly about Ross County is that when I first started out seven years ago in the coaching and management side of things they were the club we were always locking horns with," he said. "They are a family club, well run. The facilities are first-class and the surface (at Victoria Park] is always good. I would like to see them in the Premier League."

"I saw them the other night and really enjoyed the football match," he continued. "Although they got beaten what I liked about them was their spirit. You could see they all got on with it. There was no big egos there. They all work for one another. Looking at their bench, they have a bit more at their disposal as well. We know what is at stake. We know the importance of the match. If you don't know that then you should not be wearing a Hibs jersey."

Hughes is also aware of the noisy backing which will follow Ross County down from the Highlands. In a stadium where the capacity is restricted due to ongoing renovation work, the manager is keen for the fans to rise to the challenge, as well as his players.

There is no doubt that those in the stands will be conscious of the significance of the game, although sometimes such an awareness tends to lead to nervousness. But Hughes wants to guard against such trepidation acting to inhibit the players and called for a party atmosphere to be created by the home fans, who will still heavily outnumber the visiting supporters.

"The fans got in behind the goals and made plenty of noise on Saturday (against Kilmarnock]," he pointed out. "We need that again. I know Ross County are going to bring about 2,000 down, so we need all the Hibs supporters out. I don't want to hear a peep out of the Ross County fans. I want the Hibs fans to get in behind the goal and keep the atmosphere in and cheer us on to what is, hopefully, success."

Although deeply respectful of Ross County, Hughes' main priority is to talk up his own club, and he outlined the glorious possibilities on offer for his side in the weeks ahead. European football can be claimed on two fronts, with Hibs having appeared to have recovered from a miserable February, during which they collected just two points. But Hibs remain just a single point behind third-placed Dundee United and after this weekend's Scottish Cup appointment have an Edinburgh derby to prepare for.

Yet the Scottish Cup has consumed Hughes' thoughts this week, and, in a refreshing change to the norm, he has accentuated the importance of the competition. League concerns have taken a back seat for the time being as Hibs re-engage with a powerful, ancient yearning. "We know what is at stake," he pointed out. "We know the importance of the match. But I say: 'Bring it on.'"

Hughes has already outlined to his players what a boost it would be to ensure European football returns to a new look Easter Road later this year.

"I was going to take my players over to the stadium last week for a walkabout and to see the East Stand, and get a feel of the atmosphere," he said. "But I decided against it. But I went out there myself last Saturday morning, before the Kilmarnock game. It was a wee bit eerie. I let my mind wander.

"I could see that new stand going up and could visualise the pitch getting bigger. And I was thinking: 'Wouldn't it be great if we could be playing European football here next season when all this happens?' And I took that back into the dressingroom and said: 'Look, have the same thoughts as me, get out there.'"

Hughes lent a further emotional charge to the occasion by promising to dedicate a Hampden semi-final appearance – should Hibs get there – to Maude McFarlane, a popular 93-year-old supporter whose funeral the manager attended yesterday afternoon.