'We are not going to kid on' - Hibs facing a fight for top six place

It is easy to acknowledge the excitement the Scottish Cup semi final draw has generated in the capital but as Chris Cadden mulled over defeat at Pittodrie he said there is too much riding on the league games that precede that Hampden showcase for Hibs players to allow themselves to get swept up in that.

"First it's Dundee United at Easter Road and we are not going to kid on it's not a big game now,” said the right-sided marauding defender. “It's the business end of the season and you have to be up for these sort of games.”

The international break will allow the Easter Road club to lick wounds and then work on a plan of attack ahead of the run into the league split.

Losing to Aberdeen on Saturday, they squandered the early advantage gained after Cadden’s deep cross into the box and Josh Doig’s positioning at the back post forced an error from home full-back Calvin Ramsey, who stretched out his leg and diverted the ball into his own goal.

Two spot kicks - one a more dubious call than the other - were converted by Lewis Ferguson and set the Pittodrie side on their way to the first win of the Jim Goodwin era. With 10 minutes remaining Vicente Besuijen made sure of it, dragging Hibs deeper into the battle for a place in the top six as United leapfrogged them into fourth. It also allowed Aberdeen to close the gap on the teams above them and, with two round of fixtures remaining, any three clubs from seven could make the cut.

Which is why Cadden insists Hibs have to up their performance levels and push the cup derby to the back of their minds. Especially as a league trip to Tynecastle, following the Dundee United encounter, could yet decide their fate.

"The semi-final is there and it’s something to look forward to but these two