Most football managers will tell you that one of their biggest problems is dealing with player injuries or suspensions - in particular when you are in charge of a side that is on a pretty decent run of form. A few months into the season is usually when these things start to take a hold - but while this has been the case for John Hughes in the last few weeks, the manager will admit that in his case it does at least help alleviate another problem he has had since the start of the campaign!

There are more than a few players in his squad who might have expected to be regulars in the side, but who in the event have been champing at the bit on the sidelines as Hibernian have chalked up a run of eight games without defeat. If any of these can claim a place in the side to face Falkirk on Saturday remains to be seen - those who are carrying injuries are every bit as keen to retain a place in the side.

As ever of course no risks will be taken, so the likes of McBride and Zemmama will need to demonstrate in the final training session tomorrow that they are fully fit and ready. One who is likely to be fit and ready is John Rankin. The midfielder has been one of those champing at the bit, but after being call into the side against Hearts and St Mirren he will be hoping that a starting place is his on Saturday.

Rankin stepped into the breach against Hearts because Zemmama had suffered an injury against Aberdeen - not in what he would regard as a comfortable position, but then a place in this side is grasped no matter where you are asked to play: "I played wide right after Zouma was unlucky to get injured the week before - and so I filled that right wing slot. Obviously it is not my favourite position or my natural one, but at the end of the day we were playing in a derby!

"We drew 0-0 and even though it was not a great result I felt a little hard done by to be left out of the starting line-up against St Mirren. At the end of the day it is the manager's decision so I just have to pick my chin up and get on with it." And get on with it he did, playing a key role in what turned into something of a battle against the Paisley side - and the elements: "When you come on you have to try and catch the pace of the game quite quickly, and that game was made a battle more than anything else with the rain and the wind. I didn't actually realise how strong the wind was until the second half when we had it behind us - and to be honest it did play a big part in the game, but at the end of the day when you are called upon you need to be ready."

The manager has asked his younger players in particular to step up their game and challenge the more experienced members of his squad. There are certainly more voices on the training ground this season - and Rankin admits all are putting in a challenge for places in the side: "I think because there was such a big change with a new manager and a lot of new players coming in, that it took a wee while for them to settle in - but there was also the young lads who stepped up from the youth team and now you can see in training and on the park that you can hear a few more voices rather than just the usual one or two. It is good for team spirit and it is good for the side because the more voices you hear the better it is going to be for us.

"The manager obviously being a Hibernian supporter and brought up in Leith wants to win a trophy for the club and get us as high up the league as possible. He has great ambitions for the club, but we are just taking it step-by-step, we know what is attainable this season and hopefully we can achieve that."

Pics: Alan Rennie for Hibernian TV