And the players in blue responded with another resilient and confident display which showed just why they are the best side in the country.
A stunning first-half strike from Kyle Lafferty ensured a 53rd championship is in the bag with three games to spare.
And 1500 Rangers fans at Easter Road and bluenoses across the world celebrated a magnificent achievement from their side who have only lost two league games all season and remain unbeaten domestically at Ibrox.
As expected this afternoon’s game was played at a breakneck speed with Rangers clearly intent on securing the title as quickly as possible.
After just one minute Steven Davis crossed from the right and Mo Edu rose at the back post but could only direct his header over Graeme Smith’s bar.
In the middle of the park Kevin Thomson then produced a scissor challenge on Patrick Cregg which left the Hibs man writhing in pain on the Easter Road turf.
Thommo got a warning from referee William Collum on this occasion but the tackle ignited an already fiery encounter.
The visitors, however, were pushing forward with intent and on 12 minutes David Weir met a Thomson corner but his downward header was flicked over the bar by Kenny Miller from close range.
It was pulsating stuff and when Miller sliced a tough volley over the bar after a flick-on from Lafferty you felt the breakthrough might not be far away.
On 17 minutes it arrived and it was a moment of class from Lafferty who had been lively up to that point.
Miller played it through to his Northern Irish teammate who used his pace to get past a defender before drilling a precise left-foot shot across Smith in to the net.
It was the third goal in four games for Laff who again produced his now trademark robotic dance routine in front of the home dug-out.
With a lead in place and the away support in ecstasy it was perhaps not surprising that Rangers slowed the game down although Thomson was unfairly booked for a 50/50 challenge with Smith after he had went through one-on-one with the goalie.
But with Anthony Stokes and Derek Riordan in the Hibs starting eleven the players in blue could not afford to let their concentration slip and on 29 minutes the latter smashed a shot goalwards from distance.
It dipped and swerved on its way through to Allan McGregor who clawed it away nervously before McCulloch punted the ball to safety.
Before the half had come to an end Hibs again came close to levelling the scoreline.
John Rankin swerved a teasing corner in to the six yard box and Paul Hanlon’s flicked header went inches past McGregor’s back post.
With the ref about to blow for half-time Sasa Papac decided to push forward but after neat link-up play involving Thomson and Naismith the Bosnian blasted high and wide of target.
Walter Smith must have been pleased with side’s efforts in an entertaining first-half as neither he nor Hughes made any alterations to their line-ups for the start of the second period.
Despite being a goal down the Hibees retained their 4-5-1 formation with Anthony Stokes given the hard task of cracking a formidable defensive barrier in Weir and McCulloch.
For Rangers it was all about holding on but on 52 minutes they were reminded that this game was not over.
Rankin found David Wotherspoon with a clever reverse pass on the right and the youngster’s swerving shot beat McGregor and missed the target by inches.
This provided a lift for the home side and Hughes immediately sprung in to action by shifting to a 4-4-2 formation with Colin Nish replacing Patrick Cregg.
Rangers, however, were always a threat on the counter and on the hour mark Naismith cut in from the left and his rocket shot stung the hands of Smith who did well to hold the ball at the second attempt.
With the game opening up Riordan decided to try his luck with an ambitious mazy run down the left but after nutmegging Steven Whittaker he took a tumble in the box and William Collum immediately told the winger to get to his feet.
At the other end a poor offside decision from the ref baffled Miller who had dinked the ball over Smith in to the net.
Kenny knew it was a tight call and TV footage showed that he was in an onside position when he started his run.
With 20 minutes to go the game suffered a dip in quality and the atmosphere suffered as a result with the Gers fans now biting their nails with the finishing line in sight.
With 75 minutes on the electronic scoreboard Nacho Novo replaced Miller who received a standing ovation from the Rangers support and a bear hug from his manager as he left the pitch.
But as soon as play resumed Riordan showed his undoubted quality when he drilled a goalbound volley which produced a magnificent save from McGregor who had dived to his left.
On 80 minutes Mo Edu was then given time and space but his 25 yard shot took a slight deflection before narrowly missing the postage stamp corner to Smith’s left.
The Rangers fans started a chant of ‘We Shall Not Be Moved’ as the clock ticked down and there was also the bizarre sight of 50 fans, many in fancy dress, doing a conga in front of the new-build flats directly across from the Main Stand.
They were already in party mood and at the final whistle the Rangers’ coaching staff joined the celebrations on the pitch.
This has been a remarkable effort from Walter Smith’s men who have now won back-to-back domestic doubles and six trophies in the past three seasons.
As the famous Tina Turner song goes Rangers have shown this season that they are ‘Simply The Best’.