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MIXU PAATELAINEN today warned strikers Steven Fletcher and Colin Nish they'll need to be razor sharp to get the goal Hibs need to take a precious lead into the second leg of their InterToto Cup clash with IF Elfsborg.

But the Easter Road boss will also demand that skipper Rob Jones and his fellow defenders are at their miserly best to ensure the Swedish outfit don't grab a crucial away goal in tomorrow's clash in Edinburgh.

Fulfilling both of their manager's requests promises to be a tall order in what will be Hibs' first outing of the season while Elfsborg are riding high in the Allsvenskan, sitting second having lost just once in 12 matches.

Almost as impressive is the Swedes' record of having conceded just three goals in those games, leading Paatelainen to admit he'd happily settle for a 1-0 win to take to the Boras Arena a week today.

He said: "Elfsborg are an excellent side, they are well-organised, well-disciplined and they have defended fantastically well in losing just three goals in 12 games.

"So it is imperative we take any chances created."

That was something Fletcher and Nish failed to do in the final match of last season as Hibs went down 2-0 to Motherwell, a match watched by Elfsborg's assistant manager Jesper Bengtsson, leaving Paatelainen to hope his strikers don't prove so profligate tomorrow.

He said: "We made a lot of chances against Motherwell that night and failed to convert any of them but hopefully we will be sharp enough to put one or two away this time.

"Elfsborg have conceded so few goals I'd settle for 1-0."

Paatelainen admitted he'd rather be playing in Sweden tomorrow but, pointing out how Hibs lost on the away goals rule to Denmark's OB Odense in the same competition two years ago, underlined the importance of keeping a clean sheet.

He said: "I think it is better to play away first and then go for whatever result you need at home in the second leg. So it is vital we do not concede a goal which would count double if need be.

"But if we can win, even by a single goal, it might give Elfsborg a problem next week as they would know that if we were to score over there they'd need to get three to beat us.

"However, Elfsborg also have very good players up front, they are dangerous and can score against anyone."

While he has steadfastly insisted Elfsborg go into the tie as favourites given they are halfway through their season, Paatelainen believes that, having had them watched twice over the past ten days, he has identified a couple of possible weaknesses.

Paatelainen e saw Elfsborg defeat Djugarden after coach Gareth Evans had watched them win a dramatic penalty shoot-out in the Swedish Cup

And Paatelainen added: "Elfsborg are a quality side and it is going to be tough for us but we think we have spotted a couple of minor weaknesses which, hopefully, we can exploit on the day."

Hibs will be without their Moroccan stars Merouane Zemmama and Abdessalam Benjelloun.

Zemmama is still recovering from a broken foot while Benji has been given time off having played a series of World Cup qualifying matches for his country following the end of the SPL season.