Kenny switches ambition on

"We'll have our work cut out. They throw up challenges other teams don't, marauding from

Stephen Kenny is certain to give John Collins' Hibs side the utmost respect in the Tennent's Scottish Cup Semi Final, he already rates them greater than their league position suggests:-

"They are the second best in Scotland, just below Celtic. As a football team I'd put them ahead of Rangers and Hearts.

"They are free-flowing, very good, very European in style. We'll have our work cut out. They throw up challenges other teams don't, marauding from every position."

As we all know it all depends which Hibs team turns up come three o'clock:-

"Their problem has been that their skilful players have been very inconsistent, but they won the CIS Cup in Hampden, beating Kilmarnock 5-1 in the final, and really turned it on when they had 35,000 of their own supporters with them.

"We're going to have to be very switched on and our two young wingers will have to provide the inspiration. But we beat them last week, and that proves it can be done."

Following yesterday's semi where Celtic defeated St Johnstone 2-1 the prize for the winner is now very clear:-

"There is a massive incentive for us to get to the final to play Celtic, with the winners playing in Europe as well, and with Scotland's co-efficient that could mean just one match before the group stages.

"Dunfermline had a great Cup tradition in the 1960s, when they won the Cup twice and had two great European runs, but the Cup final four years ago was our only appearance in 28 years."

Cup or league? Well this season's Cup run has been a very welcome relief since January and has possibly provided the springboard to improving their SPL form. The Manager is in little doubt, he would not treat an end of match on Saturday 26th May as much of a distraction.

"It wouldn't do us any harm to get to the final. It would give the players confidence. This club is ambitious and wants to be progressive, and the players want to be part of that."