Chris Hogg kicked off the campaign to help challenge the stigma surrounding HIV and AIDS yesterday, taking time out from pre-match preparations to challenge the stigma and prejudice surrounding HIV and AIDS.

Chris is joining his team-mates in supporting World AIDS Day by donning a red ribbon armband for the match against Celtic tomorrow after NHS Lothian has teamed up with Hibernian Football Club to celebrate the 21st World AIDS Day 2008 which took place on Monday. The red ribbons are an international symbol of HIV and AIDS awareness with particular relevance on around World AIDS day.

The aim of World AIDS Day is to bring to people's attention the worldwide challenges and consequences of the HIV and AIDS epidemic.

The defender meanwhile is declaring himself fully fit again after recent problems from a head injury caused him to briefly lose his place in the Hibernian first team. Initially Chris had tried to play through the pain barrier but admitted that he was wrong in trying to do that: "At the back of my mind, I knew I did not rest properly after getting my concussion. Nobody wants to lose their team place and if my leg was hanging off I'd have known for sure something was wrong. But with the head, I just thought I'd be fine with rest. I'd feel okay after a day off but it would come back a day after returning to training.

"I spoke to doctors and took time out and, thankfully, it's now okay." Chris will likely line up tomorrow alongside Rob Jones, the club skipper set to make his 100th appearance for Hibernian in the clash against the league leaders, a game Hogg know Hibernian will need to start well if they are to take anything from a side who have won their last twelve league games: "In any game against Celtic or Rangers you have to start well. If you let them get a foothold they will dictate with their passing.

"We need to knuckle down and get points but there's plenty of time as long as we keep our spirits up. I can only speak for myself but I'm confident we can string results together and Sunday is a massive game." Manger Mixu Paatelainen has been working his squad hard all week, the frozen surface forcing full use of the facilities at the Hibernian Training Centre as well as the under-soil heated Easter Road stadium. He said: "We must be ready to produce. We passed it well at Parkhead, created chances and troubled them but we conceded set-piece goals.

"Celtic are champions and SPL leaders and it's not just because they pass it well. It's also the way they defend. We need to play as a team. Celtic have fantastic individuals who can hurt us but we can't just leave the back four to deal with them."