Hibs were the first British team to take part in continental competition, invited to take part in the inaugural European Cup when English sides thought it was just foreign nonsense that would never catch on.

Winning three ties meant a place in the final back in 1955 in that initial foray (Hibs fell in the semis). Now it just gets you to a play-off for the group stage.

Fans of the club have not been treated to three European nights at Easter Road in one season since the 1972-73 Cup Winners' Cup.

There has been one previous trip to Norway and it was a 3-2 win at a then-part-time Rosenborg in 1974. There was little pressure on the visitors since they travelled with a 9-1 lead from the first-leg.

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland in Molde

Around 600 Hibernian fans have made the trip looking for their heroes to continue their European journey.

Neil Lennon has decided to go with what looks like a very attack-minded team and formation with Boyle, Kamberi and MacLaren all capable of finding their way toward goal.

But they must be careful at the back as Molde have averaged almost three goals per game in the top flight of Norwegian football and in teenage sensation Erling Haland leading the line they have one of the hottest striking properties in Europe.

Molde were well organised at Easter Road but they didn't exactly work goalkeeper Ross Laidlaw.

That might change tonight.

The hosts will be in great spirits after hammering league leaders Brann 5-1 on Sunday.

Erling Braut Haland opened the scoring at the weekend and the tall teenager is leading the line again after missing the game in Edinburgh for talks over a proposed move to RB Salzburg.

Haland, son of former Leeds and Man City defender Alfe-Inge, has been up against Hibs defender Ryan Porteous before, scoring a hat-trick in a 5-4 win for Norway under-19s in March.

Image source, SNS

Staying with Alfredo Morelos, the striker and midfielder Ross McCrorie have been sent off in Rangers' league openers with Aberdeen and St Mirren.

Morelos had his dismissal overturned but the cards have been mounting up and Jon Flanagan is suspended this evening after collecting his third booking of the competition in last week's win at Ibrox.

"I think the players understand the importance of being disciplined and keeping 11 men on the pitch, especially when games are in the balance like this with referees we don't know very well," said manager Steven Gerrard.

"It's very important my players do not take any unnecessary risks. The job is difficult enough with 11 men, especially against a top team like Maribor."

Rangers do not want any distractions before such a big night, so it was no surprise to hear that an offer for striker Alfredo Morelos from Bordeaux has been rejected.

The Ligue 1 outfit side, managed by Gus Poyet, tabled £3.75m for the 22-year-old Colombian. Will they be back with an improved bid? Would Rangers sell a player who knocked in 18 goals last season and already has three this term?

Image source, SNS

Hibernian manager Neil Lennon talking to BBC Sportsound:

"David Gray didn't get to the hotel until 11 o'clock last night, which is not ideal preparation. We want to get Martin Boyle out wide to use his pace and we've got Jamie MacLaren in because we need to score.

"We know it's a stiff test because they are a good side, but so are we. Molde know they need to win and we're hoping to pray on that edginess.

"The players know this is a year's work. It's important and, if we get through, then the next game becomes the most important.

"Molde are 18 games into their season and that gives them a clear advantage but that's not going to be an excuse since the majority of our players should be up to speed."

Image source, SNS

These two teamed up very well last season after arriving in January, with Florian Kamberi banging in nine goals and Jamie Maclaren hitting the net eight times.

Can they pick up where they left off?

Our radio coverage is up and running now and you can listen in via the link at the top of the page.

Before we crack on, there's just time for the obligatory pictures of Scottish fans on their travels.

Those Hibees must be millionaires to afford a beer in Norway.

Apologies to anyone who has phoned in sick for work.

Image source, SNS

Image source, SNS

Image source, SNS

Image source, SNS

Hibs have had some star players over the years but full-back Lewis Stevenson is the only player to lift the League Cup and Scottish Cup with the club.

Now the 30-year-old has his sights on the Europa League group stage.

"That would be the ultimate achievement," he said at yesterday's media conference. "We had good league success last year and good runs in the cup as well, but to do it at European level would be the biggest of all.

"We could make history again. The last couple of seasons, we have been beating records here and there.

"When I first came to Hibs, you would just go for the experience and enjoy the European trip, but we have set out that we want to progress and be successful."

Image source, SNS

Molde: Linde, Gregersen, Gabrielsen, Forren, Remmer, Hussain, Haugen, Aursnes, Hestad, Haland, Cibicki.

Substitutes: Ranmark, Ssewankambo, Wolff Eikrem, Mostrom, James, Strand, Chima.

Hibernian: Bogdan, Ambrose, Porteous, Hanlon, Boyle, Bartley, Mallan, Slivka, Stevenson, Maclaren, Kamberi.

Substitutes: Laidlaw, Gray, Whittaker, Martin, Swanson, Hyndman, Shaw.

As manager Neil Lennon told us yesterday, goalkeeper Adam Bogdan is back from a hip injury to take over from Ross Laidlaw.

There is one more change in the visitors' line-up from the first leg, with Jamie Maclaren in for David Gray, who arrived late in Norway after his wife gave birth.

That means Martin Boyle will move to right wing-back in place of the skipper, with Maclaren and Florian Kamberi in attack.

It's fair to say Hibs fans had a few worries about Bogdan as he shipped four goals in the foggy Faores and two more at home to Asteras Tripolis but the on-loan Liverpool man turned in a fantastic display in Greece, making several great saves - and one which was near-unbelievable - to ensure Hibs made it to the third qualifying round.

Image source, SNS

Celtic are in the Europa League play-off round after Tuesday's Champions League qualifying loss to AEK Athens.

Now there is the prospect of two more Scottish sides joining them, with Rangers and Hibernian in action this evening.

While Celtic's participation will be viewed as a disappointment, it would be a source of great excitement for the other two if they could get to within a two-legged tie of the group stages.

But let's not get ahead of ourselves... What do we have in store?

It's looking good for Rangers, who go to Maribor in Slovenia with a healthy 3-1 lead, while Hibs are in Norway after a 0-0 with Molde in the first leg at Easter Road.