NK Maribor v Hibs preview

Hughes: European test

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Hibernian kick off their European campaign with a trip to Slovenia's most successful club on Thursday night.

NK Maribor are their opponents, a side who have won their domestic league six times and have former national legends Zlatko Zahovic and Darko Milanic in their management team.

Hibs boss John Hughes will be without defender Sol Bamba for the first leg after the Ivory Coast defender reported back late from World Cup duty.

There are no other notable absentees though, and Hughes will be hoping strikers Anthony Stokes and Derek Riordan can fire the club into the Europa League first round proper.

"I think our game suits European football," he said. "I might be wrong and end up with egg on my face. But our style of play pass and move, slow and good ball retention - I think it might suit Europe.

"But whatever happens, if their good players play better than mine, then we're in for a hard night.

Bravado

"Brian Rice went over to watch them, the dossier is vast. But I don't want to give them too much and frighten them.

"I have great belief that if my players play to their potential then we can get a right good result."

Maribor beat Hungarians Videoton 3-1 on aggregate in the previous round and have won their opening two league games.

And Hughes has noticed some bravado coming from their camp.

"I saw a quote from one of their coaches saying most of their players are good enough for the English Premier League and some English Premier League players are not good enough to get a game for Maribor," said Hughes.

"If that's true, we're in for a right hard night.

"They have two really good wingers, the skipper comes off, the centre-forward can slot people in, the boy over the top scores goals, and they have two right hard-working midfielders who can also play.

"We are up against it but the work we've done has all been geared towards this game."