AS managerial debuts go, it is perhaps not quite in the baptism of fire category - for new Hibs manager Tony Mowbray it will be more like a first dousing in the sea of expectation to which he must quickly become accustomed in Leith.

Lithuanian side FK Vetra

Vilnius provide his first competitive opponents in the second round of the InterToto Cup this afternoon, which has three UEFA Cup places on offer.

Yesterday, the 40-year-old former Celtic defender was trying his best to temper his own insatiable desire for instant success with a more realistic outlook. His insistence that ''we will get a team out there'' told its own story about the scant resources he has to call upon.

Mowbray's injury list, including Derek Riordan, and Gary Smith, added to his ''not yet fit enough'' list is lengthy and he has had to draft in several recruits from their under-19 squad. Neither will today's clash be a stroll in the Leith sunshine for his depleted side. Vilnius are already well into their domestic season and will provide stiff first opponents over two legs.

''We would love to win the InterToto and qualify for Europe, but at the same time it is pre-season,'' said Mowbray. ''We have to try and marry the two together. I'm fully aware that six months down the line, if we don't win this game but are pushing the Old Firm then it ain't going to be an issue. It's about how our season progresses and how we improve.

''But I would rather be playing competitive games now to get us up to speed quicker. We could play a minnow of the Scottish game, win 8-0 and learn nothing. They're [Vetra] organised and fit and it's a big big test for us.''

Mowbray was no stranger to the highs and lows of the European scene during his playing career. With Celtic, he recalls a narrow defeat against Borussia Dortmund in a packed Westfalenstadion Stadium in the second round of the UEFA Cup in 1992. But it is the memory of their heroic comeback against Cologne at Parkhead in the previous round which burns brightest.

''We overturned a 2-0 deficit from the first leg against Cologne,'' he said. ''We won

3-0 at Parkhead. Celtic supporters make those occasions big nights. European competition is different and hopefully we can progress in this tournament and Hibs can experience some big European nights.''

Since his appointment at the end of May, Mowbray has been quietly assessing and augmenting the squad of players

he inherited from Bobby Williamson.

Colchester United goalkeeper Simon Brown has arrived to replace Daniel Andersson, 19-year-old Ipswich striker Sam Morrow signed earlier this week on a month-long deal and Mark Venus has been brought on board as Mowbray's playing assistant.

Today's match will be a major step forward in assessing the old and new components of his squad. ''For me it is a learning curve of seeing what the players can do in a matchday situation,'' said Mowbray. ''I'll be observing really. It's a chance for them all to show me what they can do.''

Today will be the first time he has taken charge of a team on his own, after serving his coaching apprenticeship under George Burley and Joe Royle at Ipswich for the past five years. ''I don't know what to expect,'' he admitted. ''I don't know how many supporters are coming, how low-key the game is going to be. I want to win every game of football I'm involved in, but I'm trying to put it into context.

''I know we are a long, long way from the point I want to get to and this is part of the process we are going through to get to where we want to be. We've got five weeks to go and there's much work to be done.''

While the club's participation in the InterToto Cup may have cut short their summer, Hibs midfielder Grant Brebner is only too happy to eschew sun, sea and sand in favour of an early return to competitive action. The 26-year-old, who broke his arm in a Scottish Cup tie against Rangers in January and only returned towards the end of the season, is eager to make up for lost time.

''Players are always going to want as long a holiday as possible but personally I was out for a long spell and came back and played four games [at the end of last season] that I probably shouldn't have played. That means that I'm hungrier this season.

''We've been in for three weeks and we didn't come in three weeks early to treat this game as a friendly.

''We're under-strength but it'll just make us try that little bit harder as a team. Fans will be coming out to see it so we can't try and play our way into it in the first 20 minutes. We've got enough quality to hopefully get us through it.''

Yesterday, his manager introduced him as ''Grant Brebner, midfield genius, Scotland captain, World Cup winner,'' to gales of laughter in the Hibs media room. But the player was only happy to indulge in some slightly less tongue-in-cheek appreciation of his new manager's talents. Brebner is confident that Mowbray's philosophy on football will endear him to the Easter Road faithful.

''It's a total contrast from last season,'' he admitted. ''Personally, I like the way the manager has been speaking about the way he wants it played.

''It seems to be all about passing and going forward which is what the Hibs fans would prefer. If we're losing

2-0 but still going forward and attacking they're happier than trying to hold on at 0-0.''