ANTHONY Stokes may have already started the ball rolling by scoring in the two games he has played for Hibernian, but Dylan McGeough is convinced this afternoon’s eye-catching Edinburgh derby is the perfect stage for his team-mate to demonstrate that the quality he once displayed for Celtic has not faded.

Stokes fell so far out of the picture at Parkhead that a new canvas was required for him to express his art of goal-scoring. It was a craft McGeouch saw at close-hand when the pair shared a Celtic dressing room but, just as McGeouch was forced to move on to boost his career, Stokes has followed his former Celtic’s team-mate’s path to Easter Road in search of a badly-needed stimulus.

McGeouch believes there has been no diminution of Stokes’ ability, no matter what Parkhead manager Ronny Deila may think, and the Hibs midfielder is hopeful the white-hot atmosphere of today’s Scottish Cup encounter at Tynecastle can provide the ideal setting for further proof to be exhibited.

“The way we play, it’s a great opportunity for him to come here and do well and you never know where it’ll take him,” said McGeouch. “Is he still that player? Yeah, of course. I think quality doesn’t fade. You can tell when he has the ball, his movement, even in the short time we’ve seen him here, he has real quality.

“I think he has a point to prove. He believes he’s good enough to be playing so he’s come to Hibs to get game time, goals and he’ll be looking to go back and see where it takes him. He’s got the bit between his teeth to prove the people who’ve doubted him wrong. Sunday will be massive in doing that. A lot of people will be watching, and we’ll all be looking to do well. It’s a chance for him to keep people talking about him.”

Hibs enjoyed a trip to Tynecastle last weekend when they saw off St Johnstone to reach the League Cup final. Repeating that victory this lunch time may prove a more difficult proposition, however, as the overwhelming support they boasted against Tommy Wright’s side is turned on its head.

Whilst they will undoubtedly not get things their own way off the pitch, they should also not expect as easy a ride on it. Even so, when asked about Hearts’ reputation for getting physical this season, McGeouch was adamant Hibs will be able to cope with whatever their city rivals throw at them.

“We’re a good football team and we like to play pretty football,” he said. “But we’ve shown time and time again this season that, if teams want to battle away, that we can stand up to that and get the result.

“It’s just really about what Hearts bring. If they want to make it into a battle then I think we’ll be right up for it - and if they want to play good football then we’ll be there as well to play good football.”

Hearts will definitely be favourites today, but their head coach, Robbie Neilson, has no problem with that. While acknowledging the stellar work done by Hibs boss Alan Stubbs in guiding them to the League Cup final, Neilson expects to end their city rivals’ Scottish Cup dream in Gorgie.

“We’re comfortable being favourites,” he said. “We’re sitting third in the top league. We should be winning the game – that’s it.

“It’s a game at Tynecastle. Any derby, we should be winning at Tynecastle. It’s just part of being at Hearts. When it comes to games at Tynecastle, we’re generally the favourites.

“I think Hibs are a good team. They’ve got a really good squad and they’ve added to it well in the January window. I expect them to get promoted this year, but once they get into the Premiership it’s a different challenge.”

One of Neilson’s players who is unlikely to be fazed by his baptism of fire today is Don Cowie. The 33-year-old was on the books at Cardiff City during the 2013/14 campaign, when they faced Swansea City in the Barclay’s Premier League for the first time. Such was the hostility between the clubs, that the police implemented “‘bubble trips”’ for the two fixtures between the rivals; that meant any away supporters attending the fixture - as well as the players and staff - were escorted on the M4 in a convey of 50 coaches.

As a consequence, Cowie, who has also experienced the “mellow” Highland Derby as a player for Ross County and Inverness, is circumspect regarding the electric atmosphere expected this afternoon.

A deadline day signing for Hearts, Cowie said: “It will be a massive game. I remember the rivalry and how much it means to everyone from watching during my time in Scotland. Both teams are going through exciting times as well.

“But I played when Cardiff and Swansea met in the Premier League, which was pretty intense, so I’m sure it’ll stand me in good stead. Having come from the Highlands, where Inverness and Ross County is a fairly mellow derby, then you get to a Wales one. . . it was pretty full on.

“When my family wanted to go to the away game and they were told they weren’t allowed to make their own way there, that was the point I realised it was a bit different. That said it all. They would have had to get on a bus at Cardiff and everyone had to be escorted all the way to Swansea. It was a convoy of Swansea fans going along the M4, basically. When I heard that, that’s when I told them not to bother. I’ve got young kids, so they were told it was best to watch it on TV. But they’ll be coming on Sunday!”

Hibs are far from unknown to Cowie. He shared a Spanish training camp at La Manga with the capital club in the summer. The sides even squared off in a friendly. “We were very impressed with them,” Cowie added.