Hibs defender Grant Hanley is looking forward to his first taste of the Edinburgh Derby this weekend and is eager to impress if given the opportunity.
The Scotland international joined Hibs this summer and is excited for his first experience of the fixture as Hibs visit Tynecastle under the lights on tonight.
Both teams come into the fixture unbeaten domestically in the league, in what is always a highly anticipated and frantic fixture between the clubs.
Speaking to the media ahead of the game, Hanley has urged for ‘calm heads’ in what he expects to be another exciting match.
“In the week leading up to the Derby, everyone is talking about it and the noise that comes with it. But from my perspective, I will try and draw on some of my previous experience of playing in big games before – there are a lot of lads in the changing room who have played in big games before, so it is about learning from them and being as calm as you can on the day.
“I have experienced Derbies before (at Blackburn and Norwich City) and they are always tense affairs – you can feel the atmosphere from the stands and from what I have heard about the Edinburgh Derby – it is no different.
“We know exactly what these games mean to our supporters and the Club.
“It is all about who performs better on the day. You need to approach it as you would any other game, that is easier said than done, but you have your gameplan during the week and all the level of detail that goes into that – so we just need to stick to that level of professionalism, keep a cool head on the day and approach it that way.”
Hanley has featured five times (all starts) since joining Hibs keeping two clean sheets – and the 33-year-old insists he is getting back to his best after getting a run of games in the team.
“As defenders, you want to keep clean sheets; that is what you pride yourselves on. That is your bread and butter.
“We’re in a good place at the moment with a lot of people pushing for places in the starting XI in all areas of the pitch, if you want to be a successful team, then you need that competition for places.
“Personally, I’m getting there, as a player you always want to improve. When you have consecutive games in a row you get up to speed a bit more and it can help your game.”
Hibs currently sit sixth in the league table, with eight points after six games – a run of form which includes five draws and one win.
“With some of the draws we’ve had, there has been a fine line – some could’ve gone the other way and then the picture looks a bit different. Hanley continued.
“As players, it is important not to get too high or too low, we need to keep a level head and look at aspects of our play that we could improve, at the same time, keep doing what we are doing and what has brought us success before.
“We’re not exactly where we want to be right now, but we certainly aren’t a million miles off.
“There is no hiding that there is always more at stake with these derby matches, but it’s three points at the end of the day and that is what we are after.”
