Pat Fenlon: Hibernian's league survival is bigger than Scottish Cup final

The visit of Kilmarnock to Easter Road this weekend is a bigger game than the Scottish Cup final, according to Hibs boss Pat Fenlon.

Hibs are not clear of relegation trouble yet, but are in the driving seat to stay up as they hold a seven point lead over bottom club Dunfermline.

Fenlon though is not losing sight of his primary focus - to maintain Hibernian’s top league status.

The former Bohemians manager said: “The game on Sunday is bigger as far as I’m concerned. The job I was brought here to do was to keep Hibs in the league and anything after that is a bonus.

“We’ve told the boys to get their heads around the games we have to play. There’s too many important games coming up and we have to make sure the club is in the premier division come the end of the season.

“The focus is about surviving and we’re nowhere near safe at the moment.”

Fenlon is still without a home league win since joining the Hibees in November but the last visit of Kilmarnock to Easter Road gave them a 1-0 win in the Scottish Cup.

This time out the team will be without goalkeeper Graham Stack, out for the rest of the season with a thigh injury. However club captain Ian Murray is nearing a return after a nightmare six months sidelined with a chronic hip problem.

Fenlon said: “We’re very fortunate to have a very good goalkeeper to come in. Mark Brown has played at a very high level with two of the biggest clubs in Scotland so it doesn’t phase him.

“Ian Murray is doing well, he played in a bounce game and he’s coming along. It’s making sure that we don’t overload him, because of the nature of the injury it’s important that we train him properly.

“We’d love to get him back in the fold because he’s an experienced player and at this stage of the season that’s what we’re looking for.”

Tom Soares is an injury doubt with an Achilles problem but otherwise Hibs have no fresh selection worries.

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