FOUR successive wins and three consecutive clean sheets has been the catalyst for a fresh wave of optimism around Celtic Park, with results and performances encouraging an assurance in Ange Postecoglou’s philosophy.

It was evident earlier in the campaign when Celtic pieced together a run of six wins across all competitions but the bubble burst with a fairly sobering trip to Ibrox at the end of August.

This week offers a test similar in stature as Celtic look to pick up a win at Easter Road, a ground where they last won on league duty in 2014.

Such stats are inconsequential for Postecoglou and a clutch of new players who will be untainted by recent experience - but it does suggest that Hibs will be capable of rousing themselves from their recent slumber to try to force Celtic onto the buffers once more.

After a strong start of the campaign Hibs have lost their last three league games – to Rangers, Dundee United and Aberdeen – but will view Wednesday night’s game almost as a free pass. The pressure in this one is all on the visitors as they look to sustain the tentative shoots of championship winning form.

Celtic’s squad will get stronger again over the course of the next few weeks with the experience of James Forrest and Christopher Jullien offering a depth and choice of personnel that has not always been there this season.

READ MORE: Ange Postecoglou's Celtic have caught winning habit - Tony Haggerty 

But the fact remains that, while there has been an easing of pressure with recent results, every league game still comes with a must-win caveat. And how Celtic handle that kind of pressure will be a factor in how they emerge from Leith on Wednesday evening.

A win would provide a strong springboard into a fairly kind run of home games that follows on with the opportunity to seriously knit together a run of results that would solidify the burgeoning belief within the squad.

Cameron Carter-Vickers and Carl Starfelt have looked more assured as a partnership in recent games but the likelihood is that they will be tested against Hibs. Martin Boyle is no stranger to Postecoglou given his Australia international credentials while the Celtic defence will be every bit as aware of the threat he carries.

Postecoglou looks as though he has the option of mixing things up with Giorgos Giakoumakis offering a different dimension up front.

The Greek forward will have benefitted from his goal at the weekend and it will be interesting to see if his contribution results in the same starting line-up against Hibs.

From middle to front there are signs that when Celtic hit their stride they are capable of blowing teams away.

Defensively, there remains an impression of vulnerability – despite being on level terms with Dundee United in terms of the stingiest record after conceding only six goals so far – but the 23 netted at the other end makes the Parkhead side the most clinical.

They will need both elements to come together if they are to pass the Easter Road test.