Jack Ross insists Hibs will have no sympathy for Hearts if the Jambos are relegated from the Premiership.
The Easter Road boss believes hard-luck stories are par for the course for both clubs during recent seasons spent in the Championship.
But if the Tynecastle side take the drop from the Premiership due to the SPFL calling time on this season, Ross admits Hibs won’t bid Hearts a fond farewell as his own club are too busy trying to go from strength to strength.
He said: “There have been times in recent years both clubs have found themselves outside the top division for different reasons and I don’t think either club would offer too much sympathy for the other because of the circumstances.
“So if it pans out we are not in the same league then so be it but I’m sure these games will come around again. Who knows we may still have a Scottish Cup semi-final to look forward to?
“Hibs are a big club but it also has room for growth and that’s one of the exciting things about it. I don’t think you get to really know a club until you are immersed inside it.
“I believe we can get far bigger. We are situated in the Scottish capital so it has enough potential to keep growing.”
Ross admitted one loss with their city rivals being relegated would be the Edinburgh derby and as a former Hearts coach he had a taste of the occasion as part of the backroom staff under Robbie Neilson.
He said: “My coaching experience at Hearts provides me with a good insight. I pitched in with first-team duties as well and at that time both Hearts and Hibs were both in the Championship.
“I was involved in the warm-ups for derby games so it gave me a good insight into it all. Before my involvement with either of the clubs the derby was always a game I looked forward to watching.”
