Hibernians’ 2-1 victory over Maccabi Tel Aviv has inevitably reinforced their optimism but Branko Nisevic is mindful of the looming pitfalls if his players head into today’s second leg at the Bloomfield Stadium with an air of overconfidence.

Still smarting from their shock defeat at the Hibernians Stadium last week, Maccabi Tel Aviv will be going all out to make amends on home soil and secure qualification to the third round of the Champions League with Czech side Viktoria Plzen lying in wait.

“It’s important that our victory in the first leg doesn’t get to our heads,” the Hibs coach told Times of Malta from Tel Aviv.

“We need to keep our feet firmly on the ground. We won last week because we made a lot of sacrifices and the players were tactically disciplined.

“If we are to gain a positive result here, we need to approach the game in the same way as we did at home but we must forget the result of last week’s match.”

The Paolites ripped up the formbook last Tuesday after coming from behind to grind out a 2-1 victory with second-half goals from Brazilians Jorginho and Jackson Lima.

“It’s obvious that a win improves the atmosphere and boosts confidence,”Nisevic, who guided Hibernians to their 11th Premier League title last season, said.

“All the players are doing well. The training sessions in the last three days have been excellent.

“In sport, the mental and physical aspects are connected.”

Given that Maccabi Tel Aviv’s principal objective this season is to make it through to the group stages of the Champions League, their 2-1 reverse to the unfancied Hibs has cranked up the pressure on the Israeli champions.

“It’s going to be a very difficult match for us,” the Serbian tactician said.

“They (Maccabi) are in a do-or-die situation as this game will determine their season.

“Staying in Europe is one thing and going out at this stage is another.

“Reports here suggest that the stadium will be full and that would make our task even harder but we’re well-prepared.”

Young striker Jean Paul Farrugia is still sidelined with injury but otherwise Nisevic has no selection problems. He is widely expected to stick with the same players who started last week’s game.

While Nisevic is readying his troops for tonight’s encounter in a serene manner, his opposite number, Serbian coach Slavisa Jokanovic, is under mounting pressure from the media and the fans to turn the tie around.

The first-leg defeat to Hibernians has caused shockwaves in Israel as the media were scathing in their criticism of the team’s performance but the general feeling is that Maccabi still have what it takes to qualify.

A number of Maccabi Tel Aviv players, speaking on condition of anonymity, reportedly disagreed with the tactical choices made by Jokanovic who took charge of the team in the close season after failing to agree a new deal with Watford.

Most of the attention in the build-up to today’s game has been on Maccabi’s efforts to recover key forward Eran Zahavi who is still doubtful.

Reports in Israel suggest that Jokanovic will switch to 4-5-1.

Probable teams

Maccabi Tel Aviv: J. Colinas Ferreras, O. Ben Harush, T. Ben Chaim, D. Miha, E. Tibi, N. Mitrovic, T. Ben Haim, G. Vermouth, C. Garcia, E. Igiebor, E. Ben Basat.

Hibernians: J. Borg, R. Gomes da Gracia, J. Lima, R. Soares, M. Dias, A. Cohen, B. Kristensen, C. Failla, A. Agius, Jorginho, Gilmar/J. Bezzina.

Referee: Andris Treimanis (Latvia).

Kick-off: 19.30.

Second qualifying round