Dunfermline v Hibernian

HIBERNIAN manager Alex McLeish talked yesterday of his hopes to keep a number of out-of-contract players at the club next season. One of the men on his list is young midfield player Grant Brebner, who has made such a big impact at Easter Road since coming there on loan from Manchester United

McLeish said he has raised the issue with Brebner, who is still only 20. Other players he hoped would stay were Willie Miller, Darren Dods, and Brian Welsh, who are all out of contract at the end of the season.

Today's game against Dunfermline will play a big part in deciding whether his task is made easier to keep his men. A victory will put them two points behind the Pars with three games left and give them a chance of avoiding relegation.

McLeish conceded yesterday a draw is no use to them. He has a full squad to choose from and said the club hoped to build on last Saturday's victory over Hearts.

Although a number of players are out of contract soon, he said they had put such matters to the back of their mind and were focused on the remaining league games. He will be looking to the strike force of Barry Lavety and Stevie Crawford who performed so well against Hearts to lead the line.

Although Kevin Harper scored the winning goal in the Edinburgh derby after coming off the bench, he may find himself once again on the sidelines to begin with, which means Tony Rougier would keep his place. McLeish said his players had coped with the pressure of last week's derby well and had been in a buoyant mood in the run-up to today's match. ''The confidence is high and they have all looked lively and enthusiastic in training,'' he said.

Many of Hibs' moves of late have come through Brebner who McLeish praised for his performances. ''Grant has a vitality about him, is very aware, lively, and can think ahead on the pitch and looks to help when mistakes are made,'' he said.

For their part, Dunfermline go into the match mindful that a victory will all but seal relegation for the Easter Road outfit. Bert Paton said he will demand his players show what they are made of in the fixture which is one of their most important for many years.

A win would stretch the Pars' lead over Hibs to eight points, but Paton is not prepared to tempt fate when he said: ''I don't think anything will be decided this weekend. Even if we win it would do us no good to think we are safe because there are still three very tough games coming up.''

Paton said he was expecting a tough match in which he wanted his players to stand up and be counted. ''They should be prepared to roll up their sleeves and work their socks off to get a result. This is a real crunch game for Hibs and I have no doubt they will be fired up for it.''

Paton believes he has a deadly weapon in Scotland's newest international prospect, Andy Smith, the club's top scorer.

''Andy is on fire and with the week he has had it would be just like him to cap it all with a goal or two.''

Ivo Den Bieman will miss out after having injured a knee, but Marc Millar makes his return.

BOOKIES' VIEW: Dunfermline - 10-11, Hibernian - 12-5, draw - 12-5.