Two wins will be 'hard ask' but John Hughes stays positive

WHEN the clubs with the worst form in the league go head to head at this stage of the season, you would normally expect it to be a relegation decider. Tonight, they meet for a place in the Europa League.

Fourth-placed Motherwell have won one game in their last six – the same as second-bottom Kilmarnock. Hibernian, a point behind the Fir Park side, have lost their last half-dozen games.

Motherwell have that single-point advantage, which means a victory at home tonight would ensure they finish fourth no matter how they fare against Rangers on Sunday. Hibs need to win both their games to be certain of that European place.

The team which slips up can still be overtaken by Hearts and end up sixth, while even if they hold on to fifth, their aspirations of playing in continental competition will then be dependent on Dundee United winning the Scottish Cup.

Hibs manager John Hughes admitted yesterday that winning both matches to claim fourth place would be tough, but again insisted that recent results had not always been a true reflection of the way in which his team played.

"We're hoping we're good enough to go and win the two of them," Hughes said. "It's going to be a hard ask, especially with the run that we're on, but if we can do it, hopefully that can get us that fourth spot.

"I think we've been playing well enough.

It just shows you we must be doing something right if we're playing two games for Europe and fourth spot. We must have been doing something right, so all credit to them, because the season lasts what, nine months?"

Hughes knows this week is a test of his team's character, but he appears not to know what has caused their form to dip so badly since January, when they were within touching distance of second place. On Saturday, by the manager's own account, they failed a test of character by panicking after taking the lead in the Edinburgh derby.

Tonight, Hughes simply has to hope that some of them, at least, show more spirit, with Liam Miller in central midfield being amongst the most important individuals in that regard. "I've not changed my mind – when we scored it scared us a little bit," Hughes added, looking back to that 2-1 defeat by Hearts. "

And we needed to get hold of the football. So that's what I'll be saying to my players. Somebody go and influence the football match – make a pass, get it back – and I feel that's what we never did towards the last half-hour of the game on Saturday."

Right-back Darren McCormack and midfielder Kevin McBride are both available after suspension, although only the latter is likely to start. Sol Bamba is still suspended, while goalkeeper Graham Stack will miss this week's two games because of an eye injury.