JIM Duffy has played down the suggestion that tomorrow's Championship encounter between Morton and Hibs at Cappielow will witness a re-run of the indiscipline which marred the previous meeting between the two teams at Easter Road. The Morton manager, his assistant Craig McPherson, his Hibs counterpart Neil Lennon, and both clubs are all still facing censure from the SFA for the massed confrontation which took place at the end of last week's goalless draw in Leith. While Duffy expects to get a "bit of stick" from the visiting fans in a match which could yet prove pivotal at the top of the table, he feels any suggestion of ill feeling between the two sets of players is wide of the mark.

"Both sets of players shook hands and were smiling after the game so I don't think there was any aspect of that," said Duffy. "I don't think it was there at the time and I don't think it will be there now.

"What has been reported happened off the pitch, not on it, and what I am looking forward to and what I am sure the players are looking forward to is playing the league leaders at home in front of a good crowd and just going and try to win the football match."

While memories of the last match could swell the Cappielow crowd, Duffy feels it is important that passions are kept in check during the powder keg match. "I can't speak on behalf of the supporters," he said. "I can't say how they will feel. It is an important football match between two top teams at the top of the league, but it is just a football match. That has to be borne in mind. Both sets of supporters will get right behind their team and I am not naive, there could be a bit of stick directed at me from the opposition fans. All I can do is get my players ready for a very tough match."

Duffy welcomes Lee Kilday back from injury and has the luxury of a full squad, with the exception of the suspended Kudus Uyenuga, whose tackle on Jordon Foster sparked all the Easter Road mayhem. Having gone three matches without a goal, he accepts they need to add a touch more creativity and execution to their usual defensive diligence against a squad which is the envy of the division.

"Dumbarton last week was a difficult game, we hit the woodwork three times, had a goal chopped off and missed a few chances," he said. "I am not saying we deserved the win, but I think we deserved a point. We really pressed the accelerator for pretty much the whole second half but we couldn't get the break in front of goal and sometimes that happens. I think it is fair to say and honest to say that we haven't been firing on all cylinders over the last three or four weeks. Although our organisation and determination like we showed against Hibs has kept us in games we haven't been as clinical as we would have liked in front of goal.

"We are still working hard, the attitude is very good, but we understand that we need to show a little bit more quality and creativity in that final third to get back to winning ways," he added. "A win against Hibs would put us almost in touching distance of the play-offs, it would be fantastic if we could manage that but they have a similar objective, a win for them and the title could be pretty much wrapped up. Forget everything else, they have the best squad and the biggest squad, so many top class options in different positions. That is going to be the test for us. On your home patch, can you raise the bar again? Can you stay concentrated and organised and focused but add something to that?"