Hibs boss Shaun Maloney relaxed ahead of Tynecastle test as he discusses quiet confidence

In fact, the Hibs boss appears more comfortable than usual as he looks ahead to a match that could have significant ramifications for his club on and off the pitch.

“There are different factors to the game. I think it’s important that the focus has only been on the performance of the team,” he says.

“In terms of the budget, that can wait until after the semi-final. These are two such big weeks that we probably just have to focus on getting the results."

It all seems very straightforward: pick up two results against a Hearts team who tied up third place a long time ago and would presumably relish the chance to block their rivals from a top-six berth and dump them out of the Scottish Cup at Hampden – again – inside seven days.

Presumably, then, it will be attack, attack, attack in Gorgie?

"In every game, whether we play Celtic or Rangers; Dundee, St Johnstone or anyone, we prepare to win the game. That doesn’t change,” he adds.

"We try to attack the team and we try to do that with the ball if we can. That is how we are trying to evolve.

"We have had a lot of the ball but it is up until that final third where we haven’t created as much as we can. Against Dundee United, that changed.

"I really feel that will be the difference in the game this weekend. We will create chances and how clinical we can be will determine the result.

"I feel comfortable in terms of how we will perform and how we compete. It will just be in those moments that we have to be at a better level.”

The first derby of the 2021/22 season was back in September, which feels a lifetime ago. Jack Ross was still in charge of Hibs who started with Martin Boyle and Kevin Nisbet up top and Kyle Magennis in midfield.

None of them will feature in this game, Boyle