HIBS star Colin Nish today insisted he was thrilled by the thought of playing in Europe for the first time – even if it was "just" the InterToto Cup.
While UEFA's Cinderella tournament fails to spark unbridled enthusiasm in many quarters, hitman Nish believes the quality of Sunday's opposition marks it out as a serious competition.
Swedish Champions in 2006, IF Elfsborg reached the third qualif
ying round of the Champions League only to be knocked out by Spanish giants Valencia, a result which saw them face the likes of Villareal, Fiorentina and AEK Athens in the group stages of the UEFA Cup.
Like Hibs boss Mixu Paatelainen, the Swedes obviously see entry to the InterToto Cup as a possible route back into the UEFA Cup and it is one, Nish believes, that shouldn't be ignored.
He said: "I've never played in Europe before so it is something I am really looking forward to doing. People say it is just the InterToto Cup but it could lead to the UEFA Cup itself and if you look at some of the names of clubs from other countries which have entered over the years you can see it is one to be taken seriously.
"When you look at Elfsborg's record in Europe last season you can see just what we are going to be up against but it's going to be a great experience for quite a number of us.
"You struggle all season to try to get one of the UEFA Cup places. We missed out so this gives us another chance to qualify.
"I think that as a squad we are relatively inexperienced in Europe so hopefully, in future, these games will stand us in good stead if, as we hope, we can start to qualify for the UEFA Cup on a regular basis."
While conceding Elfsborg, currently second in the Allsvenskan, will go into the two-legged tie as favourites given they are halfway through their season while Sunday's match will be Hibs' first, Nish believes they can still give a good account of themselves.
He said: "I think if the roles were reversed and we were the side halfway through our season facing a team which has not long started pre-season training then we'd fancy our chances.
"But we have to believe in our ability and I'm sure we'll go out there on Sunday, give it 100 per cent and hopefully that will be enough to get us through."
Playing a two-legged tie will also be something of a novelty for Nish, but, again, another experience which he believes will provide him and his team-mates with invaluable experience for the future.
He said: "I'm not sure if being at home in the first game is an advantage.
"Would getting something here to hang onto in the second leg be better than achieving a decent result away from home? I don't know, only time will tell.
"But it is going to be different. We have to focus on Sunday's game in the first place but we are also aware we'll have another match against them six days later so I am sure tactics will change over the two legs depending on what the score might be.
"For example, if you were winning a league match 2-0 and conceded a goal in the last-minute you'd be happy enough because you'd still have the game won. But in Europe, while you'd still have won, a 2-1 scoreline would have a pretty dramatic effect with the influence an away goal can have on the outcome."
Elfsborg's Boras Arena boasts a plastic pitch, a prospect which Nish admitted fills him with dread as he recalled being part of the Kilmarnock side beaten 2-0 by First Division Hamilton in the CIS Insurance Cup last season on their artificial surface which has since been replaced on their promotion to the SPL.
He said: "Afterwards everyone was moaning about it but we were told not to mention it, not to use it as an excuse. But I felt it was a hindrance to us, it's totally different playing on a plastic pitch."
While boss Paatelainen has warned Hibs fans not to expect his side to be at their peak only a fortnight into pre-season training with the physical demands put upon players, Nish revealed he and his team-mates were anxious simply to get playing again even although their last SPL match was barely six weeks ago.
He said: "As everyone knows, pre-season training is the worst part of the year for football players. I've been used to going to Italy with Kilmarnock at this time of year where there's no air and you can hardly breathe so while the running has been just as hard, at least it hasn't been quite so warm here.
"As players you just want to get back playing, you are used to training during the week and playing at the weekend so you want to get back to normal as quickly as possible.
"With Sunday being our first game we will, perhaps, be a bit rusty but the fact it is a competitive game will focus the minds a bit more. And, in any case, it's not just been running, we've had the balls out since practically the first game.
"As for the fans' expectations, your supporters expect you to win every game – especially at home – so I'm sure it will be pretty much the same on Sunday. At the very worst they'll be looking for a draw but as in every game we will be looking to win."
Nish admitted he's been taking a close interest in Elfsborg since it became evident they'd provide Hibs opposition over the next two weekends, but expects Paatelainen, who watched them in action against Djugarden in Stockholm last night as the Allsvenskan kicked back into action after Euro 2008, to bring his squad fully up to speed on their opponents on his return later today.
He said: "I've kept an eye out for their results and I saw Anders Svensson, the guy who wore No.8 for Sweden, playing in Euro 2008. He has something approaching 100 caps so that, again, shows how hard it is going to be for us.
"But I am sure the gaffer and Gareth Evans who went to see them play last week, will be going through things with us over the next couple of days. We'll be ready and while it will be difficult we'll be going into the game reasonably confident."
The full article contains 1099 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
