Hibernian head coach David Gray wouldn't be drawn on his goalkeeping pick for Saturday's Scottish Premiership trip to Motherwell after making the decision to replace Josef Bursik with Jordan Smith for Tuesday's 3-3  Scottish Premiership draw with Aberdeen - but did stress the importance of avoiding constant chopping and changing in the search for greater defensive stability.

Bursik has come under fire for a handful of high-profile errors but back-up Smith, playing his first league game in over three years, was also guilty of an error in the lead-up to the Dons' second goal in midweek, when he came for a corner and didn't catch it nor get enough on it to divert it away from the penalty box, resulting in Nicky Devlin lobbing the loose ball into the empty net.

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It remains to be seen if Gray could bring Bursik back into the XI for the match at Fir Park, or whether he might stick with Smith. 

“When you've got a goalkeeping department of three, there always need to be options. They've got the opportunity every day in training. That department is coming under a bit of criticism and scrutiny at the moment," Gray said, as he previewed Saturday's fixture.

"I was very honest with the three goalkeepers about showing faith in them and sticking with the players during difficult times. I think for goalkeepers, it's such a hard department because when they make mistakes, they get punished. The one thing I don't want to be doing is chopping and changing all the time. You want to be giving the players as much confidence as you can, so when they go on the pitch, they know you've got faith in them."

Gray accepts he still has a decision to make as to who gets the gloves this weekend but ook time to praise former Nottingham Forest custodian Smith for how he handled his baptism of fire as he made his league debut for the club.

“He was thrown into a difficult situation, just because of the scrutiny in that department, and there was the fact he hadn't played for such a long time as well. He was at fault for one of the goals, which he knows, he accepts that. But this is when he relies on his experience," the Easter Road boss continued. 

“I know he's not played many games for a long time, but he's still played at a very good level. He's a very experienced guy and a really hard-working person, and he's responded in a really positive way.  He's a very good character in the dressing room, very knowledgeable about the game, and has played at a very high level. He's not played as much as he would like, but he's been fantastic in terms of supporting Joe [Bursik], even when he's been sitting on the bench .

"It's up to him now, when he gets that opportunity, to try to grasp it as much as he can and stay in the team.”