Rangers manager Walter Smith could witness his side climb four points clear of Celtic at the top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League on Tuesday night - but he insists there is still room for improvement.
Specifically Smith believes his team should be converting a higher ratio of chances into goals.
He has been encouraged by his team's recent performances and Rangers will be seeking to stretch their unbeaten run in the SPL to nine games when they take on St Mirren at Love Street on Tuesday night.
But Smith is keeping both feet planted in reality and refuses to believe Rangers can think about taking their foot off the pedal against the SPL strugglers.
"I don't think this season that we've got ourselves into a position where we can feel complacent about anything," Smith said.
"I don't think it'll be that type of season for us.
"We'll have to work extremely hard - we've had to work extremely hard to beat St Mirren in our previous home match so it'll be a difficult one."
The 2-0 win over the Buddies in August was, as Smith recalled, a game in which Rangers struggled to impress themselves on the visitors before stepping up their performance in the second half.
The Rangers boss is convinced his side are performing at a higher level now.
"We've had a better level of possession of the ball in our last four games that we've played and that's been a pleasing aspect," Smith said.
"It's an aspect of our game we weren't too clever on in the early part of the season but we're improving on that as the team settles down a little bit and we're pleased with that aspect of it.
"To go along with that we're maybe not taking the chances that we've created through that, but we're playing to a good level. That's something our squad will have to show that they can continue to do."
Smith, who confirmed he has seen "one or two" bids for players rejected already this month, is looking to strengthen his first team with at least one signing.
He will not buy unless the right player becomes available, but Smith apparently has money to spend, regardless of the much-vaunted potential redevelopment of Ibrox.
For the record, 59-year-old Smith stressed he does not expect to still be at Rangers by the time any redevelopment of Ibrox is completed.
"What age am I?" was his rhetorical response to an enquiry when prompted for his thoughts about the tentative plans for rebuilding the famous stadium.
Smith expects St Mirren to test his side tonight.
He said: "Gus MacPherson's teams are always enthusiastic and I don't think coming away from home to any of the Scottish grounds you could say you could go into any of the games with a level of complacency.
"That certainly won't be the case for us. I don't think our team are in a position to drop down a level and still win a game. We have to be at the top level if we're going to achieve anything."
With Alan Hutton and Lee McCulloch suspended, Jean-Claude Darcheville injured and Steven Naismith doubtful with a knee problem, Smith's squad will be somewhat stretched.
Smith will complete a full year of his second spell at Rangers on Thursday.
He said: "We've had a decent run in Europe, we're still in the UEFA Cup after Christmas, so yes there have been improvements and we are doing better but there's still a fair bit to do before we can make any claims other than that."
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