Jack Ross says his players will be keen to bounce back with a good showing against Hibs after their relegation was confirmed last weekend, writes Jamie Hall.

Despite their fate being sealed, the Wasps boss reckons his players will be fired up to enjoy a good end to their season and end their Indodrill Stadium hoodoo.

Ross told Advertiser Sport: “It is not a bad game to have after having our relegation confirmed last weekend. That was disappointing but I think the fact that we have such an attractive fixture to look forward to against a team who have still got a lot to play for means that the game itself will have a real intensity to it. Players thrive off that and I’ve got no doubt that they will respond to that. I haven’t sensed in training that any of them are downbeat. They understand that in the main, their performances have been decent over the last few months. They are looking forward to finishing the season in that manner and the motivation to put the home record right is there. We have another opportunity to do that on Saturday so it is a good game to have.

“The players’ performances have always shown pride and that was the case again on Saturday. You can always pick faults or be critical in other areas, but the pride they have shown has been evident. Maintaining that will be a challenge but it was also a challenge when we knew that there was an air of inevitability around. Now that has been confirmed, the challenge is that we continue to show pride and I’ve got no doubt they will continue to do that. The circumstances around Saturday’s game mean they will have to respond because if they don’t it will be a really difficult afternoon for them, so we have to make sure we approach the game in the right manner.”

Ross revealed that young striker Scott Hynd could return from injury on Saturday after a spell on the sidelines, but experienced midfielder Burton O’Brien remains out, along with youngsters Ryan Hoggan and Lewis Wilson.

Steven Hetherington is suspended after his red card at Livingston, and the manager says that although the Englishman’s absence is disappointing, it gives others the chance to stake a claim for a place in the team.

He said: “Burton O’Brien is still out injured but all being well, Scott Hynd will be available for Saturday. Ryan Hoggan will be out for another few weeks and Lewis Wilson is still unavailable, so we still have a few out although it is mostly the younger ones.

“Stevie has made himself a fixture in the team. He wasn’t playing very much over the first part of the season and initially when I came in, but he was given an opportunity against Rangers, and since then he has deservedly started every match. He has played in a few different roles during that period and one his attractions is his adaptability within a game. It’s disappointing when you don’t have players available who have been a regular fixture in your team but it offers somebody else the chance to try and impress. It is a great game for somebody to have that opportunity, playing against a team who have been challenging at the top and have Premiership players and internationalists among them.”

The former Hearts youth coach insisted that although the Wasps’ fate is sealed, they will be fully focused on their final four games, and will not be turning their thoughts to next season.  

Ross added: “You can start the planning process to a degree in terms of your schedule, but in terms of this season, I don’t think we would be using these fixtures differently if we were in a different position. Your squad is intact for the rest of the season and from that you pick the team which will give you the best opportunity to win the game. The planning process can start a little bit earlier in other areas but in terms of the matches themselves we will be approaching them in exactly the same way as we would be if we didn’t know our destiny.”