GRANT Brebner last night stood by manager Alex McLeish's decision to keep him out of the Hibs side, even though he is desperate for a first-team jersey.

The former Manchester United midfielder made his only start of this season's campaign for the SPL leaders in the 2-1 CIS Cup win over Stenhousemuir on Tuesday evening.

He was grateful for the opportunity to show the Hibs fans he is not the forgotten man of Easter Road, after signing a four-year deal a year ago, but yesterday the former Scotland under-21 captain stood by McLeish's decision not to change a side who have shot to the top of the Premier League.

The 22-year-old said: ''The start of the season has been both good and bad for me. It is great to see the team winning, but it still really doesn't feel as if you are part of the team when you are not involved every week.

''I've spoken to the manager about my position and he has told me that I have done nothing wrong, it is just that the team have done so well and he can't change it until it is broken.

''To be honest, I wouldn't expect him to. If I was not playing and the team were losing, then maybe I would be knocking on his door.

''However, you can't argue with being top of the league.''

Manager McLeish made seven changes from the weekend in the side that pushed Hibs into the third round of the cup at Ochilview.

Even with those changes, there was no place for new signing David Zitelli.

Franck Sauzee and Russell Latapy were rested along with Mixu Paatelainen and John O'Neil, and Dider Agathe only came on in the sixty-second minute.

Brebner believes it is that greater competition which has made a massive difference to the Easter Road side this season.

''It is easily the toughest competition for places since I have been at the club,'' he said.

''It has not been too hard for me, because there is a good atmosphere in the squad and you know that you will get a chance at some time.''

Meantime, Hibs are set to request that their CIS Cup third- round tie postponed as they have three players away on World Cup qualifying duty.

The draw for the next round will be made today for the matches which will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday, September 6.

The SPL leaders have Trinidadian duo Rusell Latapy and Lyndon Andrews, as well as Canadian defender Paul Fenwick, away with their respective countries.

Manager McLeish said: ''We'll ask, under the rules, that our game in the next round of the competition be postponed.

''The match in Trinidad is due to take place on the Sunday night, meaning the earliest my players would be able to leave is the following day.

''They won' be back in Scotland until the Tuesday morning and that certainly isn't enough time for them to recover to play that night or the following night.''