Jack Ross is delighted his side were able to get the better of St Johnstone on Sunday.
But the Hibs boss has challenged his players to keep their good run going and take it to the champions next week.
A flying start to the season sees the Hibees trail leaders Rangers by just one point after seven games.
They're yet to lose a game this term and can go top with a win over Steven Gerrard's side.
And speaking after Martin Boyle's penalty gave them a 1-0 win over St Johnstone, Ross said: “We came out on the wrong end of quite a few of those last year against that particular opponent so the very obvious difference today was that we kept a clean sheet.
"I think that’s important against them, especially when you look at their recent results. They’re good at that and good at going ahead and shutting the opposition out.
"For us to maintain that and hope you get a moment of quality or fortune for the remainder of the game and that’s what we got."
Ross went on, saying his team are "growing" as a group - and can take another big step forward by conquering the champions next weekend.
He added: “All we can do is keep doing what we’re doing. We’re stretched a little bit at the moment, we have players out.
“We’ve had players who aren’t training, Kevin Nisbet, Martin Boyle, Kyle Magennis, Jake Doyle-Hayes has been suffering from the after effects of illness.
“We’re kind of just pulling it together and I do feel over the last week we have not been at our best performance wise.
“But we’ve dug out results and that’s growing as a group.
“And I’m excited about next week. We have a brilliant game to look forward to.
“To go into this game at that stage of the season as a top of the table clash is indicative of how we have grown as a team.
“The incentive is for us to beat the champions at home and go top, and it’s a brilliant incentive.
“It’s good to have the clear week, it will allow us to nurse some boys back to fitness hopefully and use the time properly for other players as well.”
