An unfortunate own goal from Dylan Vente before former Hibee Matty Kennedy's strike had the hosts sitting comfortably at Rugby Park.
Joe Newell’s stunning volley and a red card for Corrie Ndaba firmly swung the match into our favour before Myziane Maolida popped up eight minutes from time to salvage a thoroughly deserved point for Hibs.
We welcomed back skipper Paul Hanlon into the heart of our defence as Lewis Stevenson dropped out and Jordan Obita returned to left-back.
The second of our two changes from midweek saw Emiliano Marcondes make his first start with Myziane Maolida joining fellow new recruits Luke Amos and Nathan Moriah-Welsh on the substitutes’ bench.
The start of the game was delayed due to a technical issue with VAR and when we did get underway it was the hosts to threaten first when David Watson curled his shot wide of goal.
Hibernian's first opportunity came just moments later when a fantastic flick from Emiliano fed Vente and the striker’s shot on the turn flashed past Kieran O’Hara’s post as the goalkeeper scrambled across his line.
We were moving the ball around impressively in the opening exchanges and Lewis Mayo had to slide in to prevent Emiliano potentially turning in an Elie Youan cut back from close range as we pushed hard for an opening goal.
At the other end, Kanayo Megwa did brilliantly to deflect a Kennedy shot into the side netting after initially losing out to the Killie winger.
We were getting a lot of joy from short, sharp passing and movement and on 22 minutes Newell’s reverse pass allowed Youan to drive inside and try his luck with a rising effort from the edge of the box that was just too high.
Having started so well, it was disappointing to be hit by a sucker-punch just two minutes later when Danny Armstrong’s cross was turned into his own net by Vente. The striker appeared to have been fouled by Ndaba as the ball struck him however, despite his protests, the goal stood.
The opening goal energised the hosts and rocked our confidence as Killie moved into the ascendency.
They should have doubled their lead with a quick-fire second when Armstrong’s quickly taken free-kick put Kennedy clean through on goal; he drew David Marshall out before prodding the ball beyond him and wide of the post.
Killie were pressing hard for a second goal, and it took a brave block from Will Fish to thwart Rory McKenzie before Stuart Findlay headed a Kennedy cross just over.
On the cusp of half-time we almost equalised when Emiliano’s shot was saved point-blank by O’Hara following Vente’s cut back.
Neither side made any changes during the interval and we had a big chance shortly after the restart when Vente put Jair through on goal. As he was about to pull the trigger, Findlay slid in to make a stunning last-gasp block.
It would prove to be a crucial interception as Killie doubled their advantage just moments later when Kennedy slid in at the back post to turn in Armstrong’s cross.
Our response was a triple change as Myziane, Christian Doidge and Rory Whittaker were introduced.
On 58 minutes, we had another big chance as the ball fell kindly for Jair and as Ndaba slipped the goal opened up for the winger - only for O’Hara to produce a stunning save low to his right and deny him.
The Hibees didn’t give up though and kept pressing. We did eventually pull a goal back when Whittaker’s cross was deflected high into the air by Ndaba and Newell unleashed a stunning right foot volley into the top corner from 18 yards.
Suddenly, the momentum of the whole game shifted and a nervousness we hadn’t seen before crept into the home play as they desperately tried to hold onto their narrow lead.
We were cranking up the pressure and it took a point-blank save from O’Hara to keep out Emiliano after wonderful footwork from Myziane to open up the Killie defence on the left.
With 18 minutes remaining, Kilmarnock were reduced to ten men when Ndaba was red carded following a challenge on Jair. The defender had initially been cautioned for the challenge before a VAR intervention saw that upgraded to red.
Because of the challenge, Jair was unable to continue, and he was eventually replaced by Harry McKirdy for the closing stages.
Despite being down to ten men, the hosts had a big opportunity to extend their lead when Kennedy put Kyle Vassell through on goal and as he set himself to shoot, Fish slid in to make a wonderful and crucial interception.
Four minutes later, we were level as Myziane held the ball up on the edge of the Killie box and with the defence expecting a lay-off to Doidge on his left, the substitute curled a stunning finish between two defenders and beyond O’Hara to score his first for the Club.
We pressed for a winning goal and had one big chance to do so when Doidge found himself on the end of Hanlon’s deep cross but he could only glance his header wide and it finished honours even.
Kilmarnock: O’Hara, Mayo, Wright, Findlay, Ndaba, Armstrong (Deas 74’), Watson, McKenzie (Donnelly 85’), Kennedy (Polworth 91’), Watkins, Vassell (Murray 91’). Substitutes not used: Birighitti, Balagizi, Cameron, Davies, Mackay-Steven.
Hibernian: Marshall, Megwa (Whittaker 57), Fish, Hanlon, Obita, Levitt (Amos 82’), Newell, Youan (Doidge 57’), Marcondes, Jair (McKirdy 74’), Vente. Murray, Stevenson, Maolida, Doidge, Moriah-Welsh, Molotnikov, Whittaker.
Referee: Grant Irvine.
Attendance: 6,501.