FIVE down, one to go. And it will be the biggest one of them all.

After a Petrofac Training Cup tie and four Championship fixtures, Rangers and Hibernian said a brief farewell to each other at Easter Road. They will meet again, and this time it will be a prize rather than points that are on the line.

The coming weeks will be very different for the respective squads as Mark Warburton’s side celebrate their Championship title before turning their attentions to Scottish Cup glory.

For Alan Stubbs and his players, the next few fixtures will shape their league future as they look to join the Gers in the Premiership next term. A 3-2 victory here helped that cause.

After their energy-sapping afternoon at Hampden on Sunday, this was a game that Rangers could probably have done without. It was one they wanted to win, though.

The outcome at Easter Road was never going to have any real bearing on how the Scottish Cup final will go but it was Hibs who took the bragging rights thanks to goals from Jason Cummings, Anthony Stokes and Niklas Gunnarsson.

It was undoubtedly a more significant evening for Stubbs and his players as they look to find some form in the final weeks of the season and ensure they head into the play-offs having banished the memories of a run of results that allowed Rangers to storm clear at the top of the table and end the title race with weeks to spare.

As expected, Hibs opted not to give Warburton’s side a guard of honour as the teams made their way onto the park. It was no surprise, but Rangers had more important things to worry about as they looked to record a second win of the season at in Leith.

There was just one change to the Light Blues line-up as Warburton stuck with his Hampden heroes for the trip to the Capital. With a three week break to come after the fixture with St Mirren next weekend, Warburton has a balancing act to strike between keeping his squad sharp and ensuring they do not grind to a halt before their biggest game of the season.

Dean Shiels was the only man to drop out as he was replaced by Michael O’Halloran, while Billy King returned on the bench and youngsters Robbie McCrorie and Liam Burt were also given spots in the squad.

It was understandable that Rangers were not at the same level as they were against Celtic and they were off the pace for much of the first half. Warburton’s side were again roared on by a sold out section of Gers fans, but there was little for them to shout about.

It took Hibs just five minutes to get through the Rangers rear guard for the first time, Cummings beating Wes Foderingham at his near post as the Gers fluffed their lines from a throw-in.

It was far from the start that Warburton was hoping for but it got worse before it got better for Rangers as they struggled to find their rhythm.

Kenny Miller saw appeals for a penalty waved away after he combined with Lee Wallace and looked to flick the ball beyond Paul Hanlon, before James Tavernier was denied after good work from Miller and Holt.

Just as they looked to build some momentum, Rangers suffered another blow, though. Once again, it was of their own doing.

A cross from Stokes seemed harmless enough but Foderingham fumbled the ball under his crossbar and could only watch on in horror as it nestled into his net in front of the Gers supporters.

Fortunately for Warburton, the on-loan Celtic striker was denied a second goal of the night shortly afterwards after Stokes outmuscled Rob Kiernan and got a tame shot away.

Rangers were lucky not to be punished when Dominic Ball was slack in possession and Hibs broke but Stokes and Cummings couldn’t make the most of a chance to clinch the points. All Cummings got was a booking for diving.

Even at this early stage, it was looking like a long road back for Rangers but they would give themselves hope just before the interval. Once again, a keeper was at fault.

It was Mark Oxley who had his head in his hands this time around as he failed to deal with a Tavernier cross. When the ball hit the bar and Holt converted, Rangers were back in it.

Keen to get on with things after the break, Warburton sent his side out sharp ahead of the restart and Rangers were far more positive as they looked for a leveller.

The momentum didn’t last, though. The fourth goal of the night did arrive before the hour mark but it was at the wrong end for the Light Blues.

It was defender Gunnarsson who did the damage this time around, the defender rifling the ball high beyond Foderingham after Rangers failed to clear a John McGinn corner.

In a bid to spark his side into action, Warburton introduced Gedion Zelalem and King as Ball and O’Halloran, who struggled to make an impression in the wide areas, were replaced.

Rangers continued to press and probe but were having little joy, while Foderingham had to pull off a smart save from a Stokes free-kick.

There seemed little for Hibs to worry about, but McKay gave Rangers hope in the final minutes with a stunning long-range effort that flew beyond Oxley.

As tension grew around Easter Road, Holt was denied by Oxley, but there was no late collapse from Stubbs’ side this time.

After five games, Rangers are ahead 3-2. Now the countdown is on and Hampden awaits. The next one is the one that matters most.