Henrik Larsson equalled Brian McClair's Scottish Premier League record of 35 goals in a season as champions Celtic hammered Hibernian in the dress rehearsal for the Scottish Cup final.

But the day was also special for substitute Alan Stubbs, who marked his first appearance in a Celtic shirt since being diagnosed with testicular cancer for the second time in November with a goal and a title-winning medal.

Jackie McNamara sent Celtic on their way with a first-half brace and Lubomir Moravcik also cashed in on Hibernian defensive frailty.

Not even the late sending-off of Didier Agathe, for his second booking, took the gloss off the victory, although Marc Libbra chipped in with two late goals to give his side a glimmer of hope ahead of the Scottish Cup final on May 26.

The Double-winners also racked up their 97th point with two games remaining in their bid to become the first side ever to reach the 100 points barrier in the SPL.

Celtic understandably started with a swagger after last week's victory at Rangers and scored in the fourth minutes.

Alan Thompson hit a fierce drive after a Moravcik corner and his shot took a wicked deflection off McNamara before looping over Hibernian goalkeeper Nick Colgan.

But Hibernian almost grabbed an equaliser in the 14th minute when the recalled John O'Neil floated a high cross to the back post and Stuart Lovell out-jumped former Hibs star Agathe, but headed into the side netting.

The home side paid for that miss as Celtic again showed their cutting edge in front of goal to double their lead four minutes later.

Agathe hit a powerful drive from the left which Colgan failed to hold and McNamara capitalised on a mix-up between the keeper and Dirk Lehmann to stab home from just 10 yards.

Hibernian were by no means being outclassed and created another glorious chance in the 24th minute.

Marc Libbra flicked the ball to Lovell, whose right-foot volley left Dmitre Kharine stranded, but bounced just inches past the post.

Celtic had the ball in the net moments later when Thompson fired home Larsson's cross, but the strike was ruled out for offside.

The home side looked uncharacteristically out of sorts in defence, but their forwards were doing there best to keep them in the game.

A moment of brilliance from Libbra in the 31st minute almost gave them a lifeline when he wriggled past Ramon Vega and Joos Valgaeren in the box, but Kharine came off his line to make a decisive block.

Kharine, in his first start of the season, again did well to save Franck Sauzee's low drive after Libbra had played him into space on the right of the area.

In the final seconds of the half Libbra fired just wide of the upright after a scramble in the Celtic goalmouth.

But Stubbs, who was still one game from claiming a championship-winners medal, got his wish to play again before the end of the season when he replaced Valgaeren and got a great reception from both sets of fans.

Moments later Agathe went into the book for a foul on Lehmann to destroy the harmony in the crowd.

Hibernian refused to throw in the towel after the restart and Kharine again kept them at bay with a save at full stretch in the 51st minute to deny Mixu Paatelainen from Russell Latapy's cross.

The home side continued to dominate and were unfortunate not to get back into the game in the 56th minute.

Agathe first blocked Libbra's fierce drive and then Ian Murray thundered his effort against the foot of the post.

Thompson should have wrapped up the points in the 59th minute when Larsson's cross fell to him six yards out, but he fired wide of the mark with Colgan beaten.

Swedish striker Larsson had been kept quiet throughout, but he was celebrating another record in the 62nd minute when he bagged in 51st goal of the season and equalled McClair's SPL milestone.

Thompson played Larsson through on goal and he drew the keeper out before hitting a left-foot shot which Colgan got a touch to, but could not keep out.

Larsson celebrated another day to remember, but his feeling would have been nothing compared to what Stubbs must have felt when he scored on his return to the champions' side in the 68th minute.

Stubbs rose above the Hibernian defence to meet Thompson's corner and head into the top corner of the net to complete a memorable day for the former Bolton favourite.

Thompson could have made it five soon after, but for a great save at his feet by Colgan.

The home crowd did come alive in the 79th minute when Agathe, whose every touch was greeted with jeers by the home crowd, was sent off for a foul on John O'Neil.

But that did not matter as a minute later Moravcik added the fifth - his fourth goal in three games - when he fired past Colgan into the bottom corner.

Hibernian will have been left scared to death ahead of the Hampden Park final on May 26.

But they salvaged some pride with a late double from Libbra.

His first flew past Kharine from 15 yards and his second was a header from Lovell's cross.

Kharine denied the Frenchman a late hat-trick, but not even that would have given Hibernian much hope of stopping Celtic's dreams of the Treble at Hampden Park in three weeks.