Plenty of Hibernian players will be making their Edinburgh derby debuts on Saturday, but Kevin McBride has yet to sample a cross-city clash of any kind.

Midfielder McBride is unable to recall playing in any derby match, even in his schoolboy days, so he cannot wait to sample the unique atmosphere of a Hearts-Hibs affair.

"This'll be my first experience of a derby match," said the 28-year-old, who joined from Falkirk this summer.

"Obviously, the boys have let me know what the atmosphere will be like.

"When you're out on the pitch it's different, you don't hear half the things that go on, so you just concentrate on your own game."

The closest McBride has come to a derby was last season's Scottish Cup semi-final, which saw Falkirk square off against rivals Dunfermline.

The enmity between supporters of those two clubs owes more to history than geography, however, and when asked to recall earlier derby experiences, McBride replied: "I can't even remember that far back!

"Obviously, I've not played as big a game as this. It's going to be a massive game for us."

With zero derby experience, McBride could be forgiven for being the most nervous man at Tynecastle on Saturday/

But he said: "I'm more looking forward to it, more excited, if I'm being honest. These are the games you want to play in, the big games, and obviously the Edinburgh derby is a massive game."

The match is also manager John Hughes' first derby in charge.

As a boyhood Hibs fan he is as desperate as anyone to secure the bragging rights in the Scottish capital.

And McBride refuses to contemplate Hughes' half-time team-talk if things go awry in Gorgie.

"We're not going to think about what we're not going to do," he said. "We're obviously going to go there, try to win the game.

"Playing the way we've played, we've got a bit of consistency in the team now.

"The manager's a Hibs man, he's a passionate manager, so hopefully we can go there and get the win for him."

Hughes looks set to name an unchanged XI for the fifth straight match, something McBride believes has been key to Hibs' form this term.

"I think you get used to playing with certain players," he said. "The way the boys have gone about their business, he's not really had a chance to change the team.

"It obviously helps when you've got a set team each week."

With 11 points separating second-placed Hibs and eighth-placed Hearts in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League, Hughes' men are favourites to complete a hat-trick of derby wins.

But McBride said: "It doesn't matter how Hibs have been doing or how Hearts have been doing, it's just who wants it the most.

"We can't go out and think we're better than them because we're sitting higher up in the league.

"We've just got to go there and do what we've done for every other game and hopefully it'll take care of itself."

The onus will be on McBride and his fellow midfielders to stamp their authority on the game but he believes there must be a similar attitude from one to 11.

"It's all through the team, I think that's the way it's got to be," he said.

"You've got to be first to every ball, set your stall out in the first 20 minutes and carry on from there.

"I'm sure Hearts will be thinking the exact same."