Alloa boss Barry Smith says they must look to repeat their performance from the impressive 2-0 SPFL Championship win over Cowdenbeath if they want to get anything from the home clash with Hibs this weekend.

The Wasps will be without influential midfielder Stephen Simmons, who continues to struggle with a hip injury, Kyle Benedictus is suspended, while Iain Flannigan and Adam Asghar are still a few weeks away from full fitness. Another absentee for the Clackmannanshire outfit will be on-loan Hull City star Calaum Jahraldo-Martin, who is also unavailable for the match.

Alloa famously beat Alan Stubbs’ men in their previous league meeting at the Indodrill Stadium before running them close in the Scottish Cup and the gaffer says his men can take great confidence from those performances.

Smith told Advertiser sport: “Everything came together last week where the players showed grit, determination and a will to win, but they also played some good football and we will need that from now until the end of the season. I thought the fans were excellent getting behind the team last week and it makes such a difference to us. They sang for the full ninety minutes and it is that kind of backing that the players will need for the remaining games.

“Hibs are on a great run at the moment and they are where they are in the league for a reason because they are a good quality team, so we must play with the same determination as we did in the Cowdenbeath game to get something from the match. It is important that if we get the chance to play football that we do, but we can’t take away from the quality they have. The signings they made in January are experienced players who have played at the highest level. We can take confidence from the win here earlier in the season and also from the Scottish Cup game here, where we played really well in the second half. Saturday is a different game now though and we have to show that will to win once again.” Meanwhile, popular winger Eddie Ferns has left the club after agreeing to join up with ex-Wasps skipper Darren Young at Albion Rovers on-loan for the rest of the season.