Talented playmaker Allan has been the subject of three bids from Rangers in recent weeks, all of which have been rejected, before Celtic yesterday entered the reckoning by opening talks.

The continuing uncertainty over the 23-year-old’s future could serve as a distraction to the Easter Road outfit ahead of their Championship clash with Morton tomorrow.

Duffy, though, says he would much rather contend with a star player being at the centre of a transfer tug of war going into the game than be missing four key individuals through injury.

Michael Tidser, Thomas O’Ware, Joe McKee and Frank McKeown all remain sidelined while the club still await clearance to play Dutch forward Romario Sabajo.

When asked if the Allan situation could serve as a distraction for Hibs, Duffy told the Tele: “It might, but I don’t know.

“If internally the manager is trying to prepare his team but he’s not 100 per cent sure if the player’s going to be there or not, then of course it can have a minimal disruption.

“But I don’t think that is any comparison to our injuries! If I had one player who was available and might not just be 100 per cent mentally focused but had everybody else available, I would take that.

“Whereas we’ve still got four top players missing in Frank, Joe, Michael and Thomas, they have various options.

“There’s Fraser Fyvie, John McGinn, Marvin Bartley. [Scott] Martin came in last week and did well for them.

“The boy [Sam] Stanton is a good player, Alex Harris is a good player … “Their resources are still way ahead of ours, so from that perspective I wouldn’t be looking at it thinking the Scott Allan situation is a major disruption.

“It might — might — be a disruption because the manager is looking at a certain shape or system or certain way of playing.

“But I don’t think it’s any more than a minimal distraction — and I think we’ve got bigger problems than they’ve got with our injuries.” However, Duffy remains optimistic his depleted side is capable of causing an upset in Edinburgh, particularly after last Saturday’s encouraging performance and result against Falkirk.

He added: “In relative terms Hibs are a huge club in Scotland, but they’re in the same division as we’re in. That’s what I focus on. It’s not about looking at what size a club is.

“On Saturday, we’ve got 90 minutes to go and compete to the best we possibly can, and that’s exactly what we’ll do. We’ll try and make sure we make it as uncomfortable for them as we possibly can. We’re not going there to make up the numbers and we’re not in the division to make up the numbers.

“We’re going to achieve the highest place we possibly can, and that objective has been there from day one. Where it takes us, who knows? Only the months ahead will determine that.

“But in terms of going to Easter Road at the weekend, we’re going there respectful but nothing more than that.

“You respect the club and the competition and the need for a top performance to get a positive result, but that’s it. Once the whistle blows, you get in about them, as they say.

“And I think the Falkirk result gives us something to build on. We knew it would be a tough match, but the players acquitted themselves well.

“Over the balance of the 90 minutes, we gave as good as we got. I don’t think we were the better side, and I don’t think Falkirk were the better side: it was an even contest.

“We were a wee bit anxious at times and need to calm it down a bit at times, but we competed well and in terms of the work ethic and desire then I couldn’t have asked for any more from the players.” Duffy has experience of being in the Hibernian hotseat after serving as manager there between December 1996 and February 1998. Although the Ton boss insists returning to Edinburgh holds no extra incentive for him, he says the opportunity to perform on that stage will be a special occasion for his squad.

The 56-year-old explained: “I don’t really have any great thoughts on going back to Easter Road other than it’s a tough game.

“It’s a club with a great tradition and history, and the demands and expectations at Hibs are huge. In Scottish football, they should be one of the leading lights.

“From that perspective it shows how tough it’s going to be for us because we’ve got to compete over the 90 minutes. And that’s really my only concern. Wherever I was 15 or however many years ago it was is by the by.

“It was a disappointing time in general. It wasn’t a happy period — it wasn’t good for me and it wasn’t good for them. Therefore, I don’t have too many fond memories.

“That’s nothing to do with them as an actual football club, it’s just when you go to a football club you want to be successful, and ultimately it was a difficult time.

“But you live and learn from that and you move on. It’s all in the past, and going back to a former club is totally immaterial to me.

“For me it’s all about looking forward to Saturday and concentrating on taking Morton there, not reflecting back.

“I think going to Easter Road is something the players all want to take part in and of course they want to be involved in these type of games, so there’s been a sense of anticipation this week.

“We usually work with a good tempo, but certainly the tempo was very high and the work ethic was there this week and hopefully we can carry that forward into Saturday.”