Marc McNulty has teased Hearts over their sluggish derby ticket sales, claiming Hibs would never have a problem shifting seats for a Tynecastle trip.
The Jambos took the unusual step of putting briefs on general sale after failing to sell out their 3800 allocation for tomorrow at Easter Road.
The club normally sell via a loyalty points scheme only to release 800 tickets on Wednesday despite looking to win twice in Leith in a season for the first time in 22 years.
And a smiling McNulty said: “I have seen a few bits about them struggling to sell the full ticket allocation and I don’t know why that is – but I don’t think Hibs would have that problem!”
The Reading loanee, who played with Hearts coach Liam Fox at Livingston, was sounded out about a move to Tynecastle in January but was intent on staying in England. By the end of the window, though, he had settled on Hibs being “the right club at the right time in my career”.
McNulty revealed Hearts-daft mates told him he’d made the wrong move, with Hibs trailing their rivals by seven points after December’s defeat.
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But a nine-game unbeaten Premiership run under Paul Heckingbottom means victory on Saturday will see them move six points clear of Hearts.
McNulty said: “When I first came here we were quite a bit off and I have mates who are Hearts fans who were giving me it tight, telling me we were miles off them.
“I still have banter with them telling them, ‘Remember I told you we would catch you.’
“It’s funny, I texted them to ask if they had bought their tickets because I know they haven’t sold them all and I got a couple of swear words back.
“The gap was massive and a lot of fans thought Hearts were challenging for the title and we were struggling and going to be bottom six. It’s good to be part of a Hibs team that has put a run together and we feel like the fans are backing the side.
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"When I first arrived it felt like it was on edge a little bit. But now there is a good feeling around the stadium. It’s great for the lads.”
McNulty loves the banter online but claims Hearts fans have gone silent after plenty of chat in the build-up to Hibs winning in Gorgie this month for the first time in six years.
He said: “You don’t want to lose any games but the first match you don’t want to lose is against Hearts and every player and fan will tell you the same.
“It felt better being a local lad and I follow a lot of Hearts and Hibs fans, I see a lot on Twitter. It was all about how bad Hibs’ record was going there, how Hearts were superior and all that nonsense.
“It was a chance to go and change all that and we were confident. To be a part of that team is brilliant. I’ve not heard much this time around – they’ve been pretty quiet.”
