Dump us 5-1 in a Cup Final THEN you can talk about a power shift

Now he wants to see if Pat Fenlon’s side can walk the walk.

For Hearts striker Sutton knows the only thing that matters in derbies is the result.

And he reckons Hibs still have a long way to go before they can call themselves the top team in Edinburgh.

He said: “If Hibs finish second in the league, win the Scottish Cup 5-1 and we finish where we are right now THEN people can talk about a power shift.

“But it’s a bit premature at the moment, there’s a long way to go this season. We haven’t had a good start but we’re not a million miles away even from second place and have the League Cup semi-final to come later this month.

“So we have plenty left to play for this season.

“And if we can get our act together then I don’t think people will be talking in terms of a shift so much.

“A win against Hibs would set us up for the rest of the season.

“After this we go into the winter break and this game will either put us in a good mood or leave us feeling pretty horrible off the back of a bad result.

“So we’re pretty determined to get a good outcome.

“From our point of view we didn’t deserve to lose at Easter Road, but we maybe didn’t deserve to win.

“Hibs have had a better season so far, but we’re focused on ourselves.

“I don’t want to get into the whole ‘they beat us and we beat them 5-1 in the final’ thing, it’s not about that it’s about the next game against them.

“So we are confident we can beat them and start a decent run in the league.

“And hopefully at the end of the season we can look back and say it’s been a good year for the club.”

Hibs’ Cup victory last month ended a run of 12 games without a win against the Jambos.

But the Easter Road side haven’t won in Gorgie since May 2009 and Hearts boss John McGlynn also believes talk of a power shift is misguided at this stage.

He expects the banter to be flying at Tynecastle tonight.

Hibs fans will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of their famous 7-0 win in Gorgie while Jambos are still basking in the glory of the Hampden humiliation of their rivals in May.

McGlynn said: “That’s good natured banter and that’s how it should be.

“But I think it’s a wee bit premature to say there’s a change of power. It is maybe different if you’ve won 12 games in a row — or even 22.

“But we didn’t lose the first time we played them this season and if we were to win this game I would imagine that would settle all the talk.”

Sutton was frozen out earlier in the campaign but has returned to play a key role in a Jambos revival in recent weeks.

Hearts had slashed the 10-point lead Hibs had when they won the Cup tie on December 2 to just three before Saturday’s game at Ross County was called off.

And the striker admits he is enjoying his football again at Tynecastle once more.

He said: “All I want to do is play but you have to get your head down and work hard.

“It’s happened to most players in football and when the chance comes you have to take it.”

Hearts, however, will have to do without Ryan McGowan after the club accepted a bid for the defender from a Chinese club.

Sutton admits losing the Australian is a huge blow but knows he might not be the only one to leave in this month’s transfer window.

But he also believes the club, who are banned from making signings of their own, have talented youngsters ready to come in to fill the gaps.

He said: “It will be a big loss if Ryan does go because he’s a really top player.

“Whoever comes in will have big boots to fill, but this is a big opportunity for someone to come in and do well.

“We haven’t got a massively experienced squad but we do have good young players.

“We have good players and other clubs will be sniffing around.

“Hopefully no more players leave but if it happens then I’m confident others can come in and do a decent job.”

Defender Andy Webster is a doubt to face Hibs while Darren Barr may move to right-back as McGlynn looks to combat the loss of McGowan.

He said: “It’s going to be very difficult to replace him, but we’ll move the pack around and go with the best option we have.”