Hibernian take a first-leg advantage into their Conference League qualifier against Shkendija, but David Gray has warned his players that confidence alone will not be enough in North Macedonia.
Gray said his side have to believe they can progress, while also stressing that the tie is still far from straightforward. By kick-off, temperatures were expected to be around 30C, which could have an impact on the pace and intensity of the match.
Gray expects a tougher test away from home
Speaking ahead of the game, Gray said his players “have to be confident” and added: “You always have to be confident. I'm confident in my group.” But he was also quick to point out that the first-leg result does not guarantee anything, saying: “But just because we won the first leg doesn't mean this is going to be easy. We need to be at our very best to give ourselves the best chance.”
That message fits the stage of the tie. Hibernian had just beaten Rangers at Ibrox on Sunday, and Gray made four changes to that side for the trip to North Macedonia. The coach also said he wants his team to be “more aggressive”, a hint that Hibernian may need to match the conditions as much as the opposition.
Conditions could shape the match
The heat is one of the biggest talking points around the second leg. A 30C evening in North Macedonia is a different challenge from the one Hibernian faced at Ibrox, and it may influence how quickly both teams can press, recover and sustain tempo over the full match.
The fixture is also being followed alongside Rangers' second-leg clash with Jagiellonia Bialystok, with a bumper Sportsound live from 18:00 BST as the European night builds.
For Hibernian, the task is simple in principle but demanding in practice: protect their advantage, handle the conditions and do enough to move on. Gray’s view is clear — the team can be confident, but they still have to earn progression the hard way.
