Hibernian are set to host Queen's Park at Easter Road in their second group stage game of Scotland's League Cup on Tuesday.
The home side finished the overall top-flight season in eighth after finishing second in their relegation playoff group with 46 points, while the visitors finished eighth in the Scottish Championship with 43 points.
Match preview
The hosts began their League Cup campaign with a comfortable 5-0 victory against Elgin City on Saturday, a result that left them joint top of their group.
Striker Dylan Vente scored a hat-trick on the day, and he will hope that he can replicate his League Cup display in the upcoming Scottish Premiership season, considering he only scored five goals in the top flight last term.
Hibs managed to reach the League Cup semi-final in 2023-24, and while they have only played one game in the competition in 2024-25 so far, they have certainly made an impressive start.
However, it should be noted that last season the Hibees entered the 2023-24 edition at the round of 16 stage due to their participation in the UEFA Conference League.
Manager David Gray oversaw his first competitive game in charge of the club since being appointed permanently in May, and given the nature of their 5-0 victory, the former Hibs player has already provided fans with a degree of optimism after the turbulence of last season.
Indeed, having sacked both Lee Johnson and Nick Montgomery over the course of the 2023-24 campaign, Hibs' announcement that Gray would become the 14th player to represent the club as both a player and as a permanent manager was a timely boost.
As for the visitors, they have never won the League Cup and finished second in their group in the 2023-24 season, a placement that saw them exit the competition at the first stage.
This season their opening performance against League Two Peterhead was far more impressive than last term's opening penalty shootout defeat against East Fife, as Queen's Park won 5-0 on Saturday.
However, this League Cup victory was just the Spiders' second in seven matches in the competition, and in recent seasons their overall record has been poor.
In fact, they have lost 11 of their 17 matches in the tournament since the 2020-21 season and have conceded 18 goals in that period while failing to score on seven occasions.
Callum Davidson has been in charge since January and took over a side that had finished third last in the Scottish Championship, a placement that was just one place and one point above the division's relegation playoff spot.
To Queen's Park's credit, they did end the Championship season with two wins and a draw, emerging victorious 5-0 and 2-0 against Arbroath and Airdrieonians respectively.
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Team News
The hosts will hope to have Elie Youan back in contention for a starting place after he was left out of their 5-0 victory against Elgin City on Saturday due to an illness.
However, it would be a surprise if Chris Cadden started for Hibs on Tuesday given he was forced off last time out after he felt tightness in his thigh.
As for the visitors, Liam McLeish and Zach Mauchin both scored after being brought on against Peterhead and could push for starts on Tuesday, although given the margin of victory manager Davidson could opt for a similar starting lineup.
Queen's Park have also added attacker Zak Rudden to the team after he was released by Dundee, and considering he scored on his debut for the club on Saturday, he is likely to start again.
Hibernian possible starting lineup:
Bursik; Moriah-Welsh, O'Hora, Miller, Obita; Ekpiteta, Newell; Boyle, Campbell, Molotnikov; Vente
Queen's Park possible starting lineup:
Ferie; Thomson, Wilson, Reid; Scott, Longridge, Walsh, Thomas, Turner; MacGregor, Rudden
We say: Hibernian 3-1 Queen's Park
Despite both teams making excellent starts in the group stage of the League Cup, it is difficult to ignore the fact that Hibs are a division higher than their opponents.
However, given that both Queen's Park and Hibs won 5-0, they will no doubt feel confident of at least causing their hosts difficulties.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
