Tim Clancy admits he is facing a fitness battle in order to be available to face his old club Motherwell at Fir Park on Friday night (26 October, kick off 7.45pm, live on ESPN).

Click here for ticket info for the match at Fir Park and cheer on the Hibees under the floodlights.

After moving to Easter Road from Motherwell in the summer, the Irish defender was an ever present in the Hibernian back-line for the opening 10 matches of the season.

But the 28-year-old right-back missed last weekend's defeat at Ross County with a groin problem, although says he is edging back towards full fitness and could be back in time for Friday.

Speaking to www.hibernianfc.co.uk, Clancy said: "I missed last week's game with a bit of a strain in my stomach. There are just a few muscles which are strained - it's just a bit of wear and tear.

"But hopefully I'll be back in contention to play on Friday. It's a problem that I've had for a while, so I've been doing special exercises, stretches and strength work.

"I'll just crack on with that and hopefully it will gradually get better."

Former Republic of Ireland internationalist Alan Maybury deputised in Clancy's absence on Saturday and the ex-Kilmarnock man acknowledges the amount of competition for starting spots is immense.

He added: "It's really good that there is so much competition for places in the squad - there is plenty of quality waiting in the wings for their opportunity to shine.

"So I'm hoping to get back to full fitness as quickly as possible to challenge for a place again.

"The Motherwell match will be extra special for me - I've always said that the year I spent there was the most enjoyable of my career so far.

"So that gives me extra motivation to try and get back in the side and hopefully help Hibernian to get back to winning ways."