Jamie McGrath is ready to suffer and sweat to keep Hibs on course for more history. The Republic of Ireland international and his team-mates are prepared to adapt and tough it out in Skopje.
Hibs lead 2-1 from the first leg of the Conference League clash at Easter Road, but enter a furnace in Macedonia with heat and humidity set to play a role as the squad aims to keep alive hopes of getting the club to a European group stage for the first time.
Conditions force change of approach
The 29-year-old knows there will be times against Shkendija when natural instincts and styles have to be curtailed in the conditions. Gray's team may have to get down and dirty in spells and McGrath got a first-hand experience of how things can change savagely in altered conditions as a youngster during his first days in Europe with Dundalk.
He explained: "We went out to AEK Larnaca. I can't remember the first leg, it was either a draw or we were 1-0 up, but it was a completely different game over there. I think we were two or three down after half an hour. We just tried to implement our game. We pressed high. Yeah, it was difficult. You can't probably play the same kind of style as what we like to play at home. You can't really press with such intensity for 90 minutes."
"I don't think we've played in such severe heat as what's expected, but it's a challenge we're looking forward to. You've seen on Sunday [against Rangers] we're capable of doing both sides. We can sit in and be hard to break down. I think it suits us on the counter-attack as well and belief is important."
Experience and belief key
McGrath, who has also played in Europe with Aberdeen and Dundee United as well as last term at Hibs, when the squad came so close to reaching the groups before losing out to Legia Warsaw in the play-off, said: "It doesn't feel like a year ago. It's been a quick year. A few new faces and a few people leaving but the group is pretty much similar to what it was last year."
"We have those experiences from last season and I think that can only stand us in good stead. We can take a lot of learning from last year. We've obviously put ourselves in a good position after last week but I'm sure it will be a different challenge. There's a lot of leaders in there. If we can help any of the younger lads, of course, we'll all get around."
"We have that culture. We all want the same outcome and we all want to try and achieve something that a Hibs team haven't, reaching the league stages." Gray uses history as a motivation. He used it for Ibrox last Sunday challenging his team to be the first at Hibs to post a win for a third successive season at Ibrox and he's talked about the potential of a first Euro group stage.
McGrath happy to be back
McGrath said: "The gaffer has always challenged us with little carrots like that, but we're by no means close. We still have a long, long way to go. It's going to be a very, very difficult game, so we can't really look too far beyond that. We have a really important job to do and hopefully we can execute it."
McGrath is just happy to be back. He missed out on the last round against Malisheva through injury and only returned to the squad five days ago in Govan. He said: "I know. It's what you worked so hard for last year, but the boys were brilliant to bounce back and we get to experience it again. To do back-to-back seasons, it's been a first time in a long time that the Hibs have done it. Of course, it's disappointing not to feature in the first few games but as impatient as you are, you have to remember that the season is very long. You don't want to rush back too soon and put yourself back too much."
