Source: Team_Talk
Hughes: I'll field my strongest team
Hibs are overwhelming favourites to overcome the Super League Premier Division side in the fourth round on Saturday.[LNB]But manager Hughes, who began his playing career in the junior ranks, could not be approaching the match more seriously.[LNB]He has already had Irvine watched more than once and vowed to pick his strongest available line-up at Easter Road.[LNB]He told Hibernian TV: "I have a huge respect for the junior game here in Scotland. I started at that level myself with Newtongrange Star.[LNB]"I will be fielding my strongest team for this game; it's the Scottish Cup and, like everyone, we want to win it.[LNB]"I've watched Irvine Meadow several times and they have a number of players in their ranks with Scottish League experience and they will be no pushover.[LNB]"They are a big, hard-working side who will be treating this game as their cup final and will have a big support behind them.[LNB]"We may need to be patient as they may get men behind the ball to try and make it difficult for us to break them down.[LNB]"We may put the odd pass astray or miss the odd tackle. There may be spells in the game where they have the ball in our half.[LNB]"Patience is the key. That along with professionalism.[LNB]"We will give Irvine Meadow every respect. The fact that they have progressed this far in the competition tells you they are a decent side.[LNB]"We, however, are an SPL side, full-time, with our players training every day of the week.[LNB]"Their players, meanwhile, have to train in the evenings perhaps a couple of times a week after all their guys have finished up their full-time day jobs.[LNB]"So if we go about our business in a professional manner, we expect to win the match.[LNB]"As ever, I'd encourage our fans to come along and get behind the team again this Saturday as they've done so magnificently this season.[LNB]"It's the Scottish Cup. Everyone goes in with the same chance of winning it and that's what we'll be trying our hardest to do."[LNB][LNB]
