LISTEN: Hughes wary of Hibernian backlash following Hampden heartache
A place in the last-four is up for grabs for the holders, as ICT look to pile the misery onto the Hi-Bees
John Hughes feels Hibernian will come out fighting in their Scottish Cup replay at Inverness and, although he believes they will be back in the spotlight in the future, he hopes it's not at the expense of his Caley Thistle side.
The ICT manager was at Hampden for Sunday's League Cup final, where he saw his boyhood favourites lose 2-1 to Ross County. Hughes feels Hibernian were hard done by:-
"There were 28,000 - 30,000 Hibs supporters and the hairs on the back of my neck were standing up. I thought they were the better team, but all credit to Ross County who hung in. With cup finals, it's not how you play, it's who wins the match. It's great for Ross County to take the League Cup trophy back to the Highlands. That said, it gives us a problem now, and Hibs will have the fuel to go and put Sunday right. We have to stand up to the challenge and be competitive. It's a good match, two good football teams, and may the best team win"
The winners will play Dundee United in the semi-finals on the 16th of April, with Inverness aiming to become the first side since Rangers in 2009 to retain the Scottish Cup.
John Hughes has no new injury concerns, although club skipper Richie Foran is back on the bench. James Vincent, David Raven, Josh Meekings, Dean Brill and Aaron Doran continue to miss out.
Andrea Mbuyi-Mutombo, who came off the subs bench to score the equaliser in the first match at Easter Road, is rated 50-50.