Paul Hanlon knows Hibernian, without a win in eight games, could fall to even greater depths of despair in Tuesday night's Scottish Cup fourth-round replay at Ayr.
Hibs have four wins from 22 games this season and under manager Colin Calderwood have a record of two wins and eight defeats from 13 games. The winless run included the 0-0 Scottish Cup draw with Irn-Bru Second Division side Ayr at Easter Road, forcing the replay at Somerset Park.
"It's a massive game," said defender Hanlon. "We've got to go there, concentrate on ourselves and hopefully get the right result. We know how difficult it's going to be - they came to Easter Road and put on a good performance."
He added: "We didn't manage to break them down on that day, but we've got to go there and try and play as best we can to get through to the next round."
Hibs were beaten by eventual runners-up Ross County in last season's Scottish Cup following a quarter-final replay.
Hanlon added: "It was a big disappointment. We've got to remember that game and put it right this time."
Victory over Ayr could revive Hibs' ailing season, but Hanlon knows it will take more than one result, with Calderwood's men 10th in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League table.
"We've got tough games coming up in the league, but it's just a case of taking every game as it comes," he said.
"We're near the bottom of the league, we need to get back up.
"We need to keep working hard, keep playing for each other and see where it takes us."
Source: PA
