They're all big games when you're bottom of the league, and there's no room for error as Hibs arrive in Dingwall.
David Gray's side are in real need of three points against Ross County this evening, having registered only one win from their opening nine Premiership fixtures. They came painfully close an overdue Edinburgh derby victory at the weekend, and will be determined to go one better against the Staggies.
With important decisions facing the head coach, our writers look at how Hibs could line up.
Patrick McPartlin
Gray made four changes for his team to face Hearts; two enforced through injury and suspension respectively and I think we could see him mix it up again for tonight’s game, although possibly not with quite as many personnel swaps.
There is perhaps some merit for rotation with three games in a week but that's a dangerous game to play when the team are desperate for points and too many changes could prove fatal.
I think we could see Joe Newell come back into the starting line-up, and I wonder whether Mykola Kukharevych could return to the XI as well after coming off the bench and scoring a goal in the derby. He’s probably better suited to starting a game like this but Dwight Gayle would be a good option to bring on later.
I don’t think Chris Cadden will be risked, which probably limits Gray's chances of matching Ross County’s 352 unless he plays Lewis Miller or Martin Boyle as a wingback, and I’m not sure he’d do either.
Miller was filleted by supporters and pundits alike for his role in Hearts’ equaliser but assuming Cadden remains sidelined, having not trained on Monday, I’d be amazed if Gray plays anyone else at right-back - although I can imagine Gray, a former right-back himself, has spoken candidly to the Australian internationalist about staying alert defensively at all times.
With Newell likely to come back in I imagine it will be Élie Youan making way, and a slight tweak to a defensive 433 shape with Nectar Triantis sitting behind Kwon Hyeok-kyu and Newell.
I thought Youan looked lively at times against Hearts, particularly the run that so nearly set up Dwight Gayle shortly before he was subbed off, but Gray has already said the former Nantes youngster is still a little bit short of match fitness. Perhaps 20-25 minutes off the bench tonight would keep him ticking over and increase his chances of starting at the weekend. If it wasn’t such a risk based purely on their G/A contribution so far, I wouldn’t be against the idea of Youan starting on the left and Junior Hoilett coming on in the second half but Gray said in his pre-match press conference, he needs Youan to be on it a lot more often than he is.
Gray rolled the dice against Hearts by starting Martin Boyle, Junior Hoilett, Gayle, and Youan which left him a little short on the bench in terms of viable game-changing options, but I don’t think he’ll be quite as gung ho (on paper anyway) tonight.
Three points feels non-negotiable but Gray will need to get the balance right between a strong starting team, and options off the bench tasked with helping to ensure that there isn’t the now-customary late collapse.
Team: Bursik; Miller, Ekpiteta, O’Hora, Obita; Kwon, Triantis, Newell; Boyle, Kukharevych, Hoilett.
Liam Bryce
A different venue and a very different challenge awaits Hibs this evening. From the spectacle and buzz of the Edinburgh derby to a long trip north on a cold October evening, Dingwall, as it always does, will be a test of mentality as much as anything else. A second game in just four days presents challenges for Gray, too, as he attempts to best balance his squad with another difficult game against Dundee United looming on Sunday.
He could be tempted to match up Ross County's shape given they're likely to play 3412, but I think there's a case for giving Sunday's front four more time together on the pitch. Is there any debate over whether Youan-Hoilett-Boyle is currently Hibs' strongest combination behind a striker? I don't think there is. They've had precious little time together to start gelling, but they're Hibs' best bet at improving their attacking output. Sunday's derby was an improvement on the chance creation front, and it's perhaps time for some continuity to help nurture that further. Starting Elie Youan for the second time in only a few days, given his fragmented start to the season, might be a concern, as perhaps is leaving something in reserve to make changes. But Hibs' need is great, and the Frenchman is their most creative player when he's on form. Gray needs him to step up.
Read more:
There's a case to be made for both Gayle and Kukharevych leading the line, but Gray may just stick with the former. Had Gayle taken one of numerous chances, Hibs fans would have been celebrating an overdue Edinburgh victory long into Sunday night. That he didn't deliver, and Kukharevych did after being subbed on, does produce an admittedly strong argument for them to swap places tonight. But I'd be tempted to stick with Gayle given the sheer amount of goalscoring positions he took up, as the goals will surely come with more sharpness. That being said, it'd be difficult to begrudge Kukharevych a return to the team.
Elsewhere, I expect the back four to remain as it was. There have been calls for Lewis Miller to be dropped, and while I don't disagree that some time out of the team might be a good thing for a player who seems to be struggling with confidence, but Hibs don't have another natural right-back with Chris Cadden still recovering from injury. In midfield, Joe Newell will likely return to the side after suspension, I suspect at the expense of Nectar Triantis given Hyeok-kyu Kwon was among Hibs' better performers against Hearts.
Team: Bursik; Miller, Ekpiteta, O'Hora, Obita; Kwon, Newell; Boyle, Hoilett, Yoaun; Gayle.
Read the rules here