Livingston boss David Martindale believes this weekend’s visitors Hibs have hit top form simply because they’re now accustomed to Scottish football.
The Edinburgh club make the short trip to the Tony Macaroni Arena on a run of six league games unbeaten - their longest such run since Lee Johnson took charge.
That has catapulted them into fourth-place but they sit just two points ahead of the Lions, who currently occupy seventh spot. Livi won the clash the last time the teams met in West Lothian but Martindale warned that Hibs are a different animal now.
Speaking to the Courier, he commented; “I don’t think there’s much separating the clubs outwith the top three and a wee run of form can take you right up the table.
“We’ve had that previously in the season and Hibs are doing that just now. It will be a really difficult game.
“They’ve got a few players - Elie Youan being one example - who have had that adaptation period and are probably playing at a higher level than they were at the start of the season.
“They’ve got guys now who are properly bedded into Scottish football and the way Hibs want to play and you’re seeing that. They’re a stronger team for that.”
The Lions will welcome back former Hibs midfielder Stephane Omeonga from suspension with no new injury worries heading into the fixture.
They’ll be looking to kick-start their bid for a top-six berth having picked up just one win in their last six games - but it’s not a run of form that has Martindale overly worried.
He added: “We went through this run of fixtures at the start of the season and the only difference is we picked up three points against Hearts rather than a draw this time.
“We’re now going into a run of fixtures where your probability of picking up points is higher but there’s no divine right to get those points. We know what we’ve got and we trust the process.”
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