Given that we were a goal behind and struggling when the game was abandoned at half-time, this match should be looked on as a rare chance for the players to have a second bite at the cherry. That previous meeting came during our winter dip but since then our fortunes have turned. Motherwell's last six game have included four wins and a couple of draws while Hibs have managed only one win from their last five - most recently they capitulated to Celtic on Sunday when they were thumped 5-0.
A big midweek crowd is expected!
Manager Fenlon, speaking after the drubbing at Easter Road, said, "We haven't helped our goal difference and we've got a massively tough game coming up on Wednesday and we've got to try to put a bit of daylight between ourselves and Dunfermline". He rested O'Connor for that game but we can expect the striker to be on the field on Wednesday. It was his strike that gave Hibs the lead before the lights went up in flames in December.
We know that at least one change is forced in the home team. Lasley's dismissal against Hearts means an immediate suspension and a reshuffle in midfield. McCall will be reluctant to break up a back four that has returned clean sheets in our last three games but there will be a temptation to restore Craigan to centre back, move Clancy to the right and push Hateley up one. Another option is to field Carswell as a straight replacement; McCall rates the youngster and his extended contract makes it clear we'll see more of him in the future.
Hibs will be desperate to break away from the bottom of the table but the huge turnaround in the dressing room during the January window suggests that it will take time for the new faces to adjust to the rigours of a relegation scrap. Motherwell are riding high and if they can avoid the slippery slope of complacency then we should be three points closer to second spot on Wednesday night with a 3-1 win.