Tom Soares has first hand experience of relegation and is determined to use that to help Hibernian secure their SPL status.

Hibernian have to deal with a Scottish Cup match with Kilmarnock, but SPL survival is the main aim for the team this season.

Soares is one of eight players recruited by Pat Fenlon to help steer the Easter Road club away from the bottom of the division, and the on-loan Stoke player has uncomfortable memories of relegation from his time at Crystal Palace.

The midfielder said: "As a player I want to win every game, I want to be successful.

"I've been at two clubs, Charlton and Sheffield Wednesday, and they both got relegated and I went back to Stoke. It's not great for me. Me, as a person, I don't like failure.

"I want to be successful and that's why I came here. Everyone wants results and we need results desperately now. The players that have come in are eager to play and willing to work hard to climb up the table.

"Maybe I might have a word with the few of the boys when I feel like it might be needed, to let them know how it feels (to be relegated) and what they've got to lose."

Despite being only a point above Dunfermline at the foot of the table, Soares feels he has joined a team with far more potential that it is showing.

He said: "It's a good squad. The new players coming in ups everyone's game a bit and it's better for the squad."

While Soares has been made aware of Hibernian's long wait for a Scottish Cup victory, he believes that a good cup run could have a knock-on effect on their league form.

Asked about Hibernian's history in the Cup, Soares said: "I don't know too much. I don't think they do too well."

He added: "You need to go into every game to win. If we go on a decent run in the cup, hopefully we can go up the league as well."