Colin Calderwood has eyes on top-six prize but focus is on next game

Just a few weeks ago, Hibs were bona fide relegation candidates but now, with the SPL split approaching, a place in the top half of the table is possible after five successive wins ahead of this Saturday's trip to Perth.

Calderwood said: "We've got to try to chase it.

"It's not really what we're looking at - our focus is on the next game. Absolutely everything - the entirety of it - is only this game. We've got to focus on the next step."

Calderwood was yesterday named Clydesdale Bank Premier League Manager of the Month for February after ending a 12-game winless streak with a 100 per cent record from their four matches. It was a double success for Hibs, with left-back Callum Booth named Young Player of the Month.

Tuesday's win at Hamilton stretched the winning run into March and Calderwood is determined to continue it at McDiarmid Park on Saturday with a sixth straight success.

"It's about winning the next one," he added.

"We've got three away fixtures in a row - we started with a victory at Hamilton and we'll need to do it again.

To keep up with the teams around about us we're going to have to win and that's the intention."

Hibs and St Johnstone are now level on points, alongside Aberdeen, with Inverness seventh and Dundee United sixth, three points clear of Calderwood's men.

Calderwood attributed Hibs' turnaround to the strong defensive record and their ability to open the scoring in matches.

Following their strong spell, the former Scotland defender also believes his team will be better equipped to respond to any future disappointment, such as conceding the first goal.

"We've got to have that reaction to a setback," he added.

Another key ingredient to Hibs' success has been the influx of new talent, with six signings in January and the emergence of youth team product Booth.

The 19-year-old left-back made his Hibs debut in January's Scottish Cup fourth-round replay loss at Irn-Bru Second Division Ayr but has been influential in Hibs' recent run and scored the opener in last Saturday's 2-0 defeat of Inverness.

Calderwood said: "It's terrific that he's been able to establish himself from a difficult period to win the award.

"He rounded the month off and his performances off with the goal last week.

"He's a very good prospect."Former Scotland defender Calderwood insisted that both Booth and 21-year-old Paul Hanlon should look to continue their progress in the international under-21 set-up.

The manager said: "I think their progression should be to get through this under-21 campaign, learn from it and see where we are at the end of it.

"Performances always take you towards where you want to go but those ahead of them at the moment look in control of the shirts. So I think it will be good experience for them to stay at that level and enjoy the experience of trying to qualify."

Both Hibs players look set to be key members of Billy Stark's under-21 squad which begins its next European Championship qualifying campaign this September in a tough group that includes the Netherlands, Austria, Bulgaria and Luxembourg.

Hanlon was a regular in the side which went so close to making this summer's finals - losing to Iceland in a two-legged play-off - while Booth has earned promotion from the under-19s.

Goalkeeper Graham Stack has also been an important figure for Hibs of late but, on Tuesday night, he suffered a shoulder injury which is yet to be fully assessed and he could yet be ruled out for the remainder of the campaign.

Calderwood added: "The specialist will look at him in a week once the swelling has reduced on his shoulder and that will give us a better indication."

Graeme Smith replaced Stack in goal in the win at Hamilton, while Calderwood could turn to Mark Brown or former Czech Republic Under-21 stopper Jakub Divis, who is on loan from Tatran Presov and could make his debut at McDiarmid Park.

Stack said of his injury: "I've come out and caught a cross.

"I've tried to avoid landing on my neck, so my shoulder has taken the full impact. I've had an X-ray and, thankfully, it is not broken.

"I'm waiting on a call to see a shoulder specialist to look at the X-ray and decide where we go from here."