Hibernians harbour high hopes of advancing to the second round of the Intertoto Cup. A 2-1 success over Slaven Belupo in the first leg last week has bolstered the Paolites' self-belief that this afternoon in Croatia, they can get the result they need to reach the next stage.
Robert Gatt's men stunned their more-quoted opponents on Saturday with a bold display built around their solid defending and swift counter-attacking movement.
Terence Scerri fired them ahead after 13 minutes, but Slaven's mounting pressure resulted in a penalty which was transformed by Posavec just before half-time. Hibs' brisk second-half display then produced a winner through Andrè Schembri.
Adrian Pulis, a pillar in the Hibs defence in that first match, says the 2-1 win over Slaven has revived memories of their victory over Shelbourne in the Champions League two years ago.
"Winning the first leg keeps us in the hunt for qualification," Pulis told The Times yesterday from Croatia where the weather is cool and rainy.
"I believe we have good reason to be optimistic of gaining a good result here. Two years ago, we were more or less in a similar situation when we played Shelbourne in Ireland. The tie was all to play for after a 2-2 draw in Malta but we managed to go through by winning the second leg. I hope we will do the same here."
Gatt is not expected to make a lot of changes from Saturday's match unless he's got his hands tied by injuries or illnesses.
Antoine Zahra is still recovering from the leg injury which forced him out of action after 44 minutes of the first leg. Andrew Cohen, who turned in a lively performance after replacing Zahra, is doubtful because of flu.
Hibs will again be without Cesar Paiber and Ndubisi Chukunyere. Paiber has yet to return from Argentina while Nigerian midfielder Chukunyere is still nursing a knee injury.
Their need to protect their slim one-goal lead is likely to prompt Gatt to stick with a five-man defence with towering defenders Pulis, Aaron Xuereb and Ryan Mintoff crowding the central defensive zone and Roderick Baldacchino and Zahra manning the flanks.
Slaven saw more of the ball at Corradino but Hibs, barring a 20-minute spell in the latter part of the first half, did not find too much trouble in dealing with their opponents' attacks.
"I would say that our level of organisation increased during the course of the game," Pulis recalled.
"It was all down to confidence as we realised that Slaven were not superior to us.
"In the second half, we played with more grit and composure... we also had the chances to widen our winning margin."
Hibs' probable formation: M. Muscat, P. Pullicino, A. Pulis, A. Xuereb, R. Mintoff, A. Schembri, E. Mbong, A. Mifsud, A. Zahra (A. Cohen), T. Scerri, R. Baldacchino.
Referee: D. Jakimovski (Macedonia).