Motherwell captain Keith Lasley is determined to show that talk of a slump is overblown when Hibernian visit Fir Park.

Just over a month ago, Motherwell were seconds away from moving four points clear at the top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League but lost a two-goal lead against Aberdeen and have now fallen to sixth.

They also failed to hit their early-season heights against Rangers in a 2-0 Scottish Communities League Cup defeat.

But Well's only two league defeats have come against in-form Celtic and in a 1-0 loss to Hearts at Tynecastle and Lasley believes they are not far away from winning displays.

The midfielder said: ``It's been a disappointing month if you look right back to the Aberdeen game which we should have closed out.

``The two games against the Old Firm we never really performed to the standards we expect.

``At Hearts last week I thought we were a little unfortunate not to take a point.

``The Rangers game was the most disappointing one. But I don't think it's a case of being very poor every game.

``We played well most of the game against Aberdeen and unfortunately never held on.

``It's not as if we have been really struggling and getting thumped every week.

``There is no talk in the dressing room of being miles away from where we want to be.

``It's been shown this is a dog-eat-dog league and it's who is at it on the day that usually wins.''

Shaun Hutchinson is out of the clash with a hamstring injury, but fellow centre-back Adam Cummings returns from suspension.

Steven Saunders remains on the sidelines as he continues his rehab following knee surgery.

Hibernian manager Pat Fenlon hopes for a happier conclusion to Friday night football at Fir Park.

Last December, in Fenlon's first game in charge, Hibs led 1-0 at Motherwell when an electrical fire forced the game to be abandoned.

In the next five matches Hibs claimed a solitary point in a season where they fought against relegation.

``Hopefully it finishes this time; the last time wasn't great,'' Fenlon said. ``There's nothing we could do about it. It was out with anybody's control.

``It probably summed up, a little bit, the luck we were getting at the club at the time.

``We've made progress. We're happy with the progress we've made.

``If we can go to Motherwell and win it will be a big plus for us because they are a very, very decent outfit.''

Former Motherwell defender Tim Clancy missed the trip to Dingwall with a groin problem but could return at the expense of Alan Maybury after training on Thursday.

Fenlon added: ``He (Clancy) is a good player, a good pro. It's been good to have him back, because we don't have big numbers, particularly defensively.''

Clancy could join Northern Ireland international Ryan McGivern in defence.