Last puzzle piece is in place, now let's play football fit for our new surroundings urges Hibs' de Graaf

After a promising start with a victory at Motherwell, John Hughes' team now face a tougher test with the visit of Rangers. Games between the two clubs are invariably keenly contested, but the atmosphere generated by the new stand could make this lunchtime kick-off extra special.

The removal over the close season of the old East Enclosure and its replacement with the East Stand has raised the capacity of the ground from 17,400 to 20,250. The early start and the fact this match is on TV appear likely to ensure that tomorrow's encounter with the champions is not a complete sell-out - some tickets were still available last night but spectators will not be able to pay at the gate - but it has the makings of an enthralling contest nonetheless.

"I think it's going to be great to play in that kind of atmosphere on Sunday," Hibs' Dutch midfielder Edwin de Graaf said yesterday. "I've played one game before in the stadium but the stand was closed. I already liked the atmosphere at that game, but the guys told me Sunday is going to be unbelievable (because of] how the fans react about football, and I can't wait for the game."

It was his friend and compatriot Michael Mols who sold De Graaf on his close-season move to Easter Road, and the former Rangers striker has already told him what to expect tomorrow. "I spoke to him at the Celtic-Utrecht game and he said 'Sunday you're going to enjoy the game because Rangers want to play football also'," De Graaf explained.

"It's for Hibs the first home game and he said to me for every Scottish team it's always difficult to play against Hibs away. I hope it will be a great game. He told me it's always a bit difficult against Hibs away, and he also told me he played against the gaffer. It was always tough against him because he was a hard defender."

Hughes has looked on with a certain amount of envy this week as the supposedly impecunious champions have been able to fork out on new players, but he suggested that even without their recruits Rangers are still a formidable side. "I'm quite sure Rangers will come here and get a lift from the nice big stadium, great pitch and tremendous atmosphere," the Hibs boss said.

"Walter is probably wiser than all of us put together and I was expecting him to bring in two or three players. I always feel that even if they have lost players, their starting XI is the Scottish champions and if they stay injury free they are a very formidable team. That will be the same on Sunday, even if one or two new boys start."

While Hibs' completion of the fourth side of the stadium during difficult economic times is testament to the sound leadership of club chairman Rod Petrie, Hughes admitted he hoped one day to be able to have large sums to spend in the transfer market. "We have not got, right at this moment in time, the financial stuff that Celtic and Rangers have got. It's evident with what they've done over the last couple of weeks, we've not got that.

"Possibly even Hearts, we've not got that. You look at it the other way and we're probably one of the clubs that are the blueprint for any club in Scotland in how to run your business.

"I can't sign a Craig Bellamy or a 4million player. We are not at that stage. We've built up infrastructure, but I'm grateful that the board of directors have still given me leeway to get players in. But we need to keep working hard.

"I have been in it seven years now and I think I've spent 75,000. Fifty grand of that was on Alan Gow in a transfer so I duck and dive. But it would be nice to sit down one day and say ‘I fancy that guy, let's go and get them'.

"I don't think at this moment in time we're there. I'm happy with what I've got, but I still feel we could add one or two to help them along."

Hughes is reluctant to declare a set target for the season. He said: "We made that mistake last year of saying this, that and the next thing, so let's just go and try and play football and see where that takes us."