Daryl Horgan has been around Roy Keane long enough to know the Manchester United legend doesn't do second best.
The former Hibs winger believes the outspoken Sky Sports pundit will already be plotting a way to smash Scottish football's Old Firm monopoly regardless of whether he takes the Easter Road reins or not.
As the bookies continue to trim the odds on whether the Irishman will replace Shaun Maloney in Leith, Horgan is convinced Keane would only ever consider ending a decade long absence from management if he's given a fighting chance for the Edinburgh club to compete.
The Republic of Ireland international played under Martin O'Neill for his country when Keane was the number two and he's adamant it's the only time he's been happy to play second fiddle in his career.
He said: "Roy is first and foremost a winner and he'll already have a good idea of what's required at Hibs and that includes the realistic potential for success.
"Whoever the manager is, the priority is to finish as high up the Premiership table as possible, in the case of Hibs, if that position is third then that would be deemed a good season.
"A European run and a cup final appearance would be regarded as brilliant but at some point someone will have to break through that glass ceiling and why shouldn't it be him?
"Someone has to be able to break through that Celtic and Rangers barrier which dominates Scottish football and I certainly wouldn't bet against it being Roy Keane.
"He will have that mentality if he does go in, it's born in him to demand nothing but the best but he'll also have an understanding of where Hibs are as a club.
"The difference in budgets and the calibre of player available to him could be a bridge too far even for him to breach.
"Celtic could bank a fortune if they go straight into next season's Champions League and Rangers are also taking in big money from their Europa League run, that doesn't make bridging that gap for the rest any easier."
The Wycombe Wanderers wide man was a firm favourite during his two seasons at Easter Road which included a derby double against Hearts and he was more happy to endorse Keane's managerial credentials which include a mixed review of his time at Sunderland and Ipswich.
He said: "There is a misconception about Roy's managerial career and maybe it doesn't get enough credit because he's so outspoken. People love to hear him but they are also quick to criticise as well because he is such a big personality.
"The truth of it is that he's had two big jobs as a manager, one of them he did really well with and another which he did pretty well with.
"I worked with Roy when he was assistant manager within the international set-up and when I came in there was a lot of change within that Irish set-up. A lot of the senior lads who had done so well for both Roy and the manager Martin O'Neill previously were either retiring or dropping out of international football.
"There were a lot of new caps being handed out so the results weren't brilliant at that time
"Roy Keane's pedigree speaks for itself, he did an unbelievable job at Sunderland, he did pretty well and assistant manager with Ireland he did brilliantly.
"We qualified for the European Championships and managed to reach the last 16 and Roy was a huge part of that.
"If he was to make the move to Hibs then it would be a different route from where my old club has gone previously but it would be a box office appointment.
"He has so much experience and is so well renowned within the game that he brings an instant credibility and stature to whatever job he's in and it's difficult to see him not making an impact."
Horgan also insists the Hibs dressing room will struggle to hold their nerve if Keane is to take the post as working under the gaze of a living legend can be both inspirational and high pressure.
He said: "The Hibs boys would love to have Roy in charge as he's an inspirational figure and for me it was a bit different with the Republic of Ireland. It was at international level so I was a bit nervous anyway as I was trying to get my foot in the door and playing for my country. There were nerves and excitement and that's what the Hibs boys can look forward to if he does become their manager as he was brilliant with me.
"There was a real positivity and chemistry within Martin O'Neill's Ireland squad and Roy played a big part in creating that.
"It was a bit different for him as he wasn't the manager but when you play under someone like him who's been there and done it, it can only lift you. As a footballer you want to show that you can reach those levels but you soon realise you'll never get there as he was arguably one of the best midfield players in the world.
"It's no crime to be able to reach the levels and heights that he had in his career but that doesn't stop you from trying.
"There is a bark there with Roy, he's never slow to let you hear him if standards drop. As a manager that's the way you need to be.
"He's the type of person who will set his stall out and tell his players what's expected of them and if any of them fall below par then he'd be the first to tell them that as well. He's a good guy to be hanging around with away from the training ground as well, maybe there is this public image of him which doesn't really bear true.
"It's difficult as Hibs are a great club, a massive club with a lot of good people working there and maybe it needs someone like Roy to come in and bring with him that wee bit of luck that everyone needs."
