Dunfermline boss Jim McIntyre is confident his side will be left in safe hands as he prepares to serve a one-match touchline ban.
The Pars manager was sent to the stands at Rugby Park last week after throwing a plastic water bottle to the track in frustration. He has now been punished by the SFA and will be absent from the dug-out against Hibs at East End Park on Saturday.
However, he stressed he has total confidence in his experienced assistant Gerry McCabe to handle team affairs.
McIntyre said: ”I think the relationship with your No.2 is key, I really do. Gerry is a very experienced man and we always bounce ideas off one another.
”He was a long, long time at Kilmarnock when they were a successful side that was in Europe most years. The wee man is great for me and we work very well together. So I will be relying on him again this weekend as I serve my one-match touchline ban.
”I do not like sitting in the stand but I just have to get on with it and learn to keep my emotions in check a bit more. I was frustrated at Kilmarnock and it just so happened that I had a water bottle in my hand at the time.
”It is difficult as I am a heart-on-the-sleeve type of guy and what you see is what you get. I do rant and rave at times but the bottom line was that I was in the wrong.”
McIntyre was sent to the stand at Kilmarnock with just 20 minutes on the clock. However, his frustration had only deepened at the final whistle after his side had paid the price for some several defensive errors that saw them leave Rugby Park without any points.
He is now looking for a tighter performance at the back against Hibs.
He said: ”I think last weekend was our best performance of the season, even although we lost. We need to cut out the individual mistakes though.
“Nine times out of 10, the player already knows himself that he has done wrong. But that is why we spend so much time on video analysis these days to help players improve and learn from their errors. If they keep doing it, then you have a problem.
”Still, leaving Kilmarnock without any points was a hard one to take. So, we will look at the positives and try to ensure that we are tighter at the back and as a team.
”Hibs will test us as they have a lot of striking options. They have had a sticky start to the season but let’s not forget they have been to Inverness, which is one of the toughest away venues, and won.
”They have also brought in wee Leigh Griffiths on loan from Wolves who has always been a thorn in our side and they have big Gary O’Connor who is a Scotland international, so we know what we will be facing.
”They have not hit their potential yet but they have a good manager and a strong squad.”
Craig Easton is rated 50/50 after taking a kick at Kilmarnock last week. Martin Hardie (ankle), Kevin Rutkiewicz (hip), Steven McDougall (groin), Steven Bell (achilles) and Nick Phinn (hamstring) will definitely miss out.