Never mind Hampden, Hibs" real cup final is against Dunfermline Suddenly, it doesn't appear such a Herculean task to get tickets for Hibernian's cup final. Just dial up the ticket office number down at Easter Road, and you'll be given a choice of seats. Let's face it, it won't be a full house when Dunfermline come to town on Monday, but it should be. This is Hibs" big game, this is the one to be at for any Hibs fan worth their salt. This is the one worth fretting about. The Easter Road side's defeat in Paisley on Sunday has given Dunfermline the glimpse of a chink of light in their bid to avoid the drop. They seem to have been resuscitated, and at the right time. Hibs" long, painful decline appears to be extending to the end of another season, although there is a chance they can still partially redeem themselves. When a few weeks ago redemption would have involved a cup win, now it appears as though merely staying up is the most Hibs fans can dare hope for. Somehow they have managed to string four wins together to reach the final of the Scottish Cup but this achievement serves to place their dismal league form in an even starker light. Manager Pat Fenlon thought that his side did enough to win Sunday's match at St Mirren. If a team are contriving to lose games in circumstances where the odds have swung in their favour to the extent that St Mirren were playing with a man down for the last dozen minutes, then it is clear there are significant problems to be addressed. There has been some talk of this possibly being one of Hibs" best seasons, if Hearts can be overcome in the Scottish Cup final. Fans have contemplated the absurdity of it all, reflecting on the fact that, while players of such unarguable quality as Lawrie Reilly, Alec Edwards and Franck Sauzee were never destined to play in Scottish Cup-winning Hibernian sides, members of this present squad, full of interlopers from down south and further afield, could be elevated to legendary status by dint of one game against Hearts, when they may - or may not - excel themselves. Those for whom this thought is a dismaying one can rest easy; on current form, Hearts only have to show up to ensure Hibs" hoodoo continues for another year at least. The Tynecastle side are a team with options, as was proved on Saturday when the hitherto little-seen Arvydus Novikovas came on against Dundee United and ensured Hearts got a point with a stunning equaliser. We know that Leigh Griffiths is capable of such a moment of inspiration, perhaps even Garry O'Connor. But Hibs have not got many more candidates to provide them with a spark. When O'Connor is out, as he was on Sunday, and when Griffiths is out-of-touch, then Hibs look a greatly diminished and almost moribund outfit. It is something which former centre-half Craig Paterson noted when speaking on BBC Radio Scotland on Sunday. Hibs, he pointed out, do not currently have the wit to make the most of a one-man advantage and lack the men capable of providing danger from the wide positions, as teams would hope to do against suddenly depleted opponents. The one consolation is that Hibs are not at home in the cup final - the William Hill-sponsored one at least. Unfortunately for them, however, home is where they are scheduled to play next week's alternative cup final. Easter Road has not been a happy hunting ground for their own players this season. Dunfermline's victory at home to Aberdeen means that they can at last match Hibs" own sorry record of a solitary league win at home this season. Even this was a scruffily-achieved victory against St Johnstone, helped by the award of a penalty, after O'Connor's tumble in the box, that was dubious to say the least. No team can expect to be clear of relegation worries having only won once at home all season. Dunfermline's late revival under Jim Jefferies means that Hibs cannot now rely on someone else being even worse than they have been this season. Who knows? By late on Wednesday night, Hibs could be six points clear and with room to breathe next Monday. Alternatively, following their trip to Aberdeen and Dunfermline's clash at Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Hibs could be level on points with their relegation rivals and viewing Monday's encounter with a distinct sense of unease. Across the way at Tynecastle, manager Paulo Sergio has banned all talk of Hampden. At Hibs, if the players need to be told to stop letting their minds wander to 19 May, then it truly is time for the supporters to worry.