Hibs Highland hoodoo appeared to have struck again when Don Cowie fired the home side into a first-half lead but Nish claimed his third goal in two games as he equalised less than a minute into the second half. And only the woodwork denied Nish a winner, his powwerful header crashing back off the post.

Hibs finally received international clearance for French striker Steve Pinau, allowing the 20-year-old, on loan from Italian side Genoa, to take a seat on the bench as boss Mixu Paaatelainen fielded an unchanged team following last weekend's victory over Falkirk.

Andy McNeil showed no sign being troubled by the thigh injury which had bothered him all week, the Hibs goalkeeper rising quite superbly to push Ross Tokely's point-blank header over his bar after Adam Tooney had nodded Dougie Imrie's free-kick back across goal in only the third minute.

A terrific one-two between Steven Fletcher and John Rankin sent the former Caley star racing into the Inverness penalty area only for the midfielder to pull his shot wide before the home side took the lead in the 21st minute with a goal of stunning simplicity.

Ian Black spotted Don Cowie in acres of room on the Hibs left and delivered a pinpoint crossfield ball for his team-mate to pull down and bring inside Paul Hanlon before firing off a low shot which took a cruel deflection to beat McNeil.

Nish should have hauled Hibs level seven minutes later when Rankin's header sent him running clear of the Caley defence but, with only goalkeeper Michael Fraser to beat last week's two-goal hero blazed his shot hight over the bar.

Hibs went close again the 32nd minute when Fraser, who had looked less than assured, couldn't hold Fletcher's low-range shot, the ball dropping for Dean Shiels who succeeded only in driving the ball against the goalkeeper. The Nothern Ireland internationalist lost his footing in doing so, allowing Fraser to collect at the third attempt.

While Caley were content to sit in and hit Hibs on the break Paatelainen's side did their best to get down the flanks, Alan O'Brien drilling in a low cross which just eluded Rankin at the far post before the flying winger picked out Fletcher whose hooked effort was safely clutched by Fraser.

But it took Hibs just 30 seconds after the interval to claim an equaliser although their goal did entail a measure of good luck. Nish peeled away beyond the far post to gather O'Brien's cross only to find himself crowded out. Hibs worked the ball back to the edge of the penalty area where, in endeavouring to find a way through, Shiels pass deflected off a Caley payer and into the path of Nish who had plenty of space and time to steer the ball under Fraser.

Nish almost made it two five minutes later as he rose to meet yet another inviting cross from O'Brien but while his header beat Fraser it crashed back off the goalkeeper's right hand post.

Fraser did well to take an O'Brien cross off the head of Fletcher but Hibs again had McNeil to thank as he tipped over a netbound header from Phil McGuire as Caley forced a succession of corners.

Shiels had a chance to clinch a win for Hibs eight minutes from time when Nish, who had been sent free once again by Joe Keenan, played the ball into his path only for the midfielder, usually so reliable in front of a goal, to slice his shot woefully wide.

Inverness Caledonian Thistle: Fraser, Tokely, McGuire, McBain (Vigurs 65), Black, Rooney, Barrowman (Wilson 80), Imrie (Djebi=Zadi 57), Cowie, Hastings, Duff. Subs not used: Esson, McAllister, Sutherland, Wood.

Hibs: McNeil, Van Zanten, Hogg, Jones, Hanlon (Stevenson 80), Shiels, Keenan Pinau 89), Rankin, O'Brien (Morais 65), Nish, Fletcher. Subs not used: Grof, Murray, Campbell, Canning.

Referee: Eddie Smith