THE last time Grant Brebner played in an Edinburgh derby, it turned out to be a match he would never forget. After only 37 minutes he was wrongly sent off for a tackle on Robert Sloan, a decision which sparked a half-time attack on referee Stuart Dougal by an irate Hibs supporter.

A last-minute Garry

O'Connor goal for 10-man Hibs separated the teams that day in a match which was marred by crowd trouble. The club later appealed Brebner's ordering off, which led to

Dougal making Scottish football history when he admitted he had got the decision wrong and recommended Brebner's red card be rescinded.

Everyone concerned will be hoping the latest Edinburgh derby goes smoothly this time round and that the focus at the end of 90 minutes is simply on the quality of football. Since that controversial day back in August, the pendulum of power within the capital has swung the way of Hearts and because of that a win or a draw for Hibs at Tynecastle is vital to help them catch up with their more successful neighbours.

Brebner, who has been Hibs' most consistent performer this season, could be the man to give them a spark tomorrow. Hero status has been bestowed on the midfielder by an Easter Road faithful keen to find someone they can relate to

following the departure in recent years of such midfield luminaries as Franck Sauzee and Russell Latapy.

For them, Brebner is the honest, dyed-in-the-wool Hibs supporter who wears his heart on his sleeve during matches and who has lived through the good and bad times at the club. Tomorrow he will make the short journey to Tynecastle with his colleagues for a derby match vital for the players as well as Bobby Williamson, who is currently locked in talks with the Hibs board regarding his contract. Since their 1-0 win back in August, the Leith club have been living in the shadow of their Gorgie counterparts, watching Hearts climb to third place in the SPL and their excellent away win in the UEFA Cup against Bordeaux.

That point isn't lost on

Brebner, who has missed only one of Hibs' 12 league games this season. The importance of his role will become evident tomorrow when the man who was signed by Alex McLeish takes to the field as one of Williamson's first picks.

With experienced midfield players like Mathias Jack, John O'Neil and Freddie Arpinon all leaving the club in the summer Brebner has become the

seasoned campaigner and, at the age of 25, is the man who motivates and makes Hibs tick in the middle of the park. He is looking forward to the occasion and believes one positive from the decision not to ground-share with Hearts at Straiton

is the fact that matches will

continue to be played at Easter Road and Tynecastle.

''The only good memories I have of derby matches are the ones we win,'' said Brebner, who scored for Hibs in the

4-4 draw at Tynecastle last

season. ''It's always a great atmosphere against Hearts and I'll remember the last game for a long time and not just for me being sent off.

''I knew it wasn't an ordering-off offence, but I have great respect for Stuart Dougal in that he put his hands up and admitted he had got it wrong and recommended the decision be reversed.

''At the end of the day, there was no harm done in that we won the game and my red card was forgotten, so everything worked out well.''

Despite enjoying one of the best spells of his playing career Brebner's future is still

undecided, such is the financial pickle Hibernian finds itself in with debts of around (pounds) 13m.

Brebner may be on his way out after four years at Easter Road, but isn't letting the uncertainty over his future get him down. He refuses categorically to discuss his contract, making it clear the matter is between him and the club. However, such is his status among the supporters that not making a decent effort to keep him could backfire badly on a Hibs board which has allowed some of its best players to leave to help balance the books.

Williamson certainly needs all the experienced players he can get. He has put together an excellent group of young players such as Scott Brown, Derek Riordan, Kevin Thomson and O'Connor, but needs players like Brebner to help encourage and motivate them on the park.

Brebner started as a 16-year-old with Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United before he moved to Reading under Tommy Burns, where he scored 12 goals in 46 games. McLeish brought him to Easter Road where he was given a five year contract such was the faith the manager had in him.

''It was great playing in a midfield with players like Sauzee and Latapy,'' said

Brebner. ''To be honest, Franck was a bit of a quiet man on the pitch and let you get on with your job. When he was

manager I got to know him better and he handed me the Hibs captaincy at Parkhead, which was a great honour for me.

''He always enjoyed derby matches and so do I and hopefully we can come away from Tynecastle with a win.''