Tuesday 28 April 2015 16:39, UK
Hibernian manager Alan Stubbs is determined his team will avoid undue play-off stress by targeting second place in the Championship.
Stubbs takes his team to Falkirk on Saturday knowing a victory will mean two games fewer in the quest for a place in the Premiership next season.
Should Hibs complete the task they will play either Rangers or Queen of the South, who meet in a two-match play-off, for another two games to determine who faces the side which finishes second bottom in the top flight.
Queen of the South have already secured fourth place, but a win for Rangers against already-promoted Hearts could see them clinch second place if Hibs fail to win.
My main focus is on my team and trying to get three points. If that happens, then, basically the Hearts v Rangers game will be irrelevant.
Stubbs told Sky Sports News HQ: "Avoiding having to play three games will just give us a bit of extra time to recover and prepare the players for the winners of that third and fourth place play-off.
"We would like to finish in second place and from that point of view it is important that we try and get a result against Falkirk on Saturday."
In the previous three league meetings with Falkirk this season Hibernian have only picked up one point, surrendering a 3-1 lead to draw 3-3, while they lost 1-0 to Saturday’s opponents for the third time in the campaign in the Scottish Cup semi-final two weeks ago.
Stubbs does not expect his players to linger on that disappointment as they have beaten both Livingston and Alloa since that loss at Hampden.
'Response'
"It was obviously very disappointing. In any semi-final you would like to win and get to a major cup final,” Stubbs said. "But the response I've had from the players has been very good.
"This will certainly be a tough game. Our record against Falkirk certainly could have been better but we are in good form having won our last five in the league and from that point of view we are really happy with where we are."
Stubbs may well decide to be kept informed with the latest events at Tynecastle as old foes Hearts host Rangers, but he insists the only result that matters is the one involving Hibs.
"I think to be honest I have thought about it yesterday and I wondered if I should have someone to keep me in touch,” Stubbs said.
“I probably will be getting updates of some sort during the game just to keep an eye on what's happening but my main focus is on my team and trying to get three points. If that happens, then, basically the Hearts v Rangers game will be irrelevant."
Watch Hearts face Rangers at Tynecastle from midday this Saturday on Sky Sports 5
