MURPHY'S LAW

IF David Murphy had his way, Hibs would keep the CIS Cup in its box instead of parading it after today's Edinburgh derby at Easter Road. Hibs have been given permission to parade the trophy after their first match since the 5-1 win against Kilmarnock but he will be a reluctant participant. With a Scottish Cup semi-final with Dunfermline to come and points to chase in the league, Murphy, 23, does not want the team open to accusations of taking their eye off the ball. And - on April Fool's Day - he knows that defeat in the Edinburgh derby could leave Hibs feeling the last thing they want is a celebration. He said: "I don't think you can think about parading the cup. It's already been won so I don't think we can care about it.

"I'm not too keen on the situation. We need to win this derby just to claw our way back in the league. "If we win, we're two points behind Hearts with a game in hand so it's massively important to get the three points. "Some people might not have been here to see us with the trophy or whatever on the day we won it but I think we have to concentrate on the games coming up - the eight or nine games that are left. "For me, we could parade the cup after the last game of the season when it's done and dusted.

"We have to be careful that it doesn't become a distraction. "We have to concentrate on the job in hand rather than getting carried away with parading the cup. Advertisement "There's been no evidence this week that it's a distraction in the dressing-room and I think, if it did, things would be said but I can't see it happening. We have such strong characters in the dressing-room and we wouldn't have won the cup if we hadn't." Boss John Collins (left) gave the impression he is also unsettled about taking the trophy on a lap of honour.

He said: "I'm not too bothered about that and I don't want my players bothered about it either. "I just want them to be focused 100 per cent on a good performance and getting three points. "Then we can have fun showing it afterwards - but it won't be much fun if we don't get the right result. "In an ideal world, we would have waited until the end of the season but it's been organised and we have to make sure our minds are set on the game - and they will be."

Murphy revealed that any basking in the CIS Cup success has been kept to a minimum and, apart from a brief celebration with family and friends, he has kept the champagne on ice. He was back training within 48 hours of the final and would not have expected anything else. He said: "We've just trained as normal. Nothing's been said but the whole of last week there was a buzz about the place I've never experienced before. There was a great atmosphere even though the international players were away. There were supporters hanging around the place and it was a good atmosphere. Murphy has enjoyed his best season in a Hibs' shirt and has chipped in with goals in both cup competitions to keep the club on course for double glory.

But the former Middlesbrough star admits he has a hankering to return south at some stage. He said: "I feel I'm playing more consistently at a high level now. It's no secret I want to go back to England to play either in the Championship or Premiership."