Hibernian are braced for a "very aggressive" and "very intense" Malisheva side in Conference League qualifying, head coach David Gray says.

The Edinburgh side get their quest for the league phase under way on Thursday afternoon against the Superleague of Kosovo runners-up in Pristina.

Malisheva were only formed 10 years ago and won their first-ever European tie to get to this stage when they stunned Vllaznia of Albania 6-2 on aggregate after a 5-0 home win.

"Watching the last leg, they thoroughly deserved to go through," Gray said. "They are very aggressive, very intense, and I expect that again.

"We need to be ready for that and I think it'll be a real tough test for us coming away to experience a different style of football, but one the players are ready for."

Hibs got to the Conference League play-off round last season before losing late on to Legia Warsaw.

They went on to finish fifth in the Scottish Premiership to secure European football in consecutive seasons for the first time in 50 years.

Now the target is to become the first Hibs side to play in the group or league stage of a major European competition.

"I'm happy with where the squad is physically," Gray added.

"I know we'll get stronger, but it's making sure that you go into this game knowing you need to be at your very best. If there's any sort of complacency at all, you will certainly be punished at this level."

New signing Callum Wright, the former Plymouth Argyle midfielder, and forward Ante Suto will both miss the first leg but could be fit in time for next week's return at Easter Road,

Midfielder Jamie McGrath and wide man Nicky Cadden are out with calf injuries, with the latter expected to miss the next few weeks.

Forward Martin Boyle is fit after coming off during Saturday's friendly win against Brondby.

Thursday's hosts were only formed in 2016, starting in the nation's fourth tier and securing top-flight football for the first time in 2021.

After consolidating with mid-table finishes, Malisheva finished third two seasons ago and second last term, seven points behind champions Drita.

This is their third season attempting to qualify for the Conference League, having lost 3-1 on aggregate to Buducnost Podgorica of Montenegro in 2024 after a 1-0 home win.

Last season, they were thumped 9-0 over two legs by Vikingur Reykjavik following an 8-0 drubbing in Iceland.

However, their dismissal of Vllaznia in the last round was a statement of greater intent from the Kosovan side, who are playing the tie in Pristina, an hour away from their home ground.

Winger Kreshnik Uka, who followed new head coach Thomas Brdaric from top-flight rivals Drenica this summer, scored twice in that victory and will pose a threat to Hibs, having hit 19 goals last season in the Kosovo top-flight.

Goalkeeper Adnan Kanuric, who played in Austria's second tier with Austria Klagenfurt last season and is one of the other six summer signings, came through the youth ranks with Stoke City and was also on the books at Nottingham Forest.

However, the 25-year-old's only first-team experience in England was on loan to Grantham Town and Oxford City and was on the bench for Malisheva against Vllaznia.

Former Cologne, Bayer Leverkusen and Wolfsburg striker Brdaric took over last month after consolidating newly promoted Drenica's place in the Kosovan top flight with a sixth-place finish.