How will Hibs line up against St Mirren in Paisley? Gray addresses 'rip it up' risk - predicted XI

Hibs boss David Gray admits he’s “always” looking at ways to freshen up his starting XI. But he has dismissed any suggestion that he “rips up” his game plan after a couple of bad results.

The Easter Road side lost a late goal in last weekend’s 2-2 draw with Livingston, having missed a penalty in the 1-0 home loss to Rangers just a few days earlier. Gray takes his team to Paisley tomorrow evening, with Hibs looking for their first away win over St Mirren since February of 2023.

Gray, addressing the potential for changes today, said: “I think you're always looking at it all the time. I think it's a difficult one, because it's the fine margins between thinking that you're miles away and ripping everything up. I don't think we are at that stage at all.

“I think I say it all the time, competition for places is really healthy within the group. You see it even in training, the standard in training, and having larger numbers back in training, and that level of competition really drives the standard.

“Players know that when they get the opportunity, they have to play to a level to make sure they retain their jersey. The group have been really good with that, positive around when you're not playing, reasons why, and then more importantly, supporting the team and everyone sticking together.

“As I say, it has been very fine margins of late. We need to make sure that we turn these good performances into complete performances and three points.”

Outlining his options for tomorrow’s game, Gray laughed as he said: “I'm not telling you who I'm leaving out, but in terms of the squad itself, the only two that are unavailable, technically, would be Dylan Levitt still and Rudi Molotnikov.

“Joe Newell and Alasana Manneh have trained all week, which is really positive, and Warren O’Hora trained all week, so he was one of the ones that we've obviously been looking at with his shoulder. He's come through all week as well, so it's only the two players that are technically unavailable.

“It’s a positive for Joe. I think, firstly, it's been a long fight for him, trying to get fit, the last time he played was December, so it's been a long fight for him. I've noticed it even in the last couple of weeks in training, having him around, driving the standard and the intensity within training, is a real plus.

“And then, as you've just rightly said, just being around, even just for him, it's just a real boost. The squad is in a good place physically, which is positive.”

Here’s how we think Hibs will line up tomorrow: