By Graham Barnstaple
May 18 2012

The football people of Edinburgh will leave the city to head to Glasgow for the first Auld Reekie final since 1896.

I have already said this week, if you had said to me about six weeks ago to predict this game it would have been easy to say Hearts. Since then Hibs have picked up a degree of confidence by staving off relegation and ensuring SPL football next season.

This makes the game a hard one to call as you can now make a case for both sides winning the game.

Hibs main strength is up front where Leigh Griffiths and Garry O’Connor can be a threat, that is if they are switched on and motivated. The have shown all season they can score goals, but for long spells they were leaking them at the back.

That was until Pat Fenlon brought in James McPake at centre back, and despite a red card in his first game, he has steadied the ship. This has made Hibs harder to beat.

They still have weaknesses, for me Pa Kujabi at full back is fine going forward but an easily be beaten defensively, this ties up Ivan Sproule to help back him up. In midfield they can be a bit lightweight and this is actually where the game could be won.

Hearts are a solid side, but could be a bit short of goals if Craig Beattie doesn’t make it through injury. Stephen Elliot has struggled up front while he has been out, and Rudi Skacel seems to be restricted to cameos these days.

Webster and Zaliukas at the back have also not been at their best since the SPL spilt, and therefore it will be interesting to see how they cope with Griffiths and O’Connor.

The other area Hibs will look to exploit is the goal keeper, after Kello was let go they have relied on McDonald who has not looked too secure at times.

If Ian Black gets a grip of the midfield, along with Darren Barr, then I think Hearts will have too much for their neighbours, but as I said at the start it is all too close to call for me.