Stephen O'Donnell admits he hopes Motherwell can close the gap on third placed Hearts by beating them in tomorrow's Premiership showdown - but their priority is ensuring they're safe from relegation.
Motherwell travel to Tynecastle to face a side that are seven points ahead of them in the table, but O'Donnell points out that there are several big clubs who are waiting to overtake them if they don't, which could push them right down the pile.
While the Scotland international reckons Graham Alexander's side have done well this season, he's taking absolutely nothing for granted.
"You need to be realistic, you need to go 'right, we need to get safe first, because every club outside maybe three or four [are in this].
"Even with that, you saw Hearts getting relegated a few seasons ago, so everybody's capable of it.
"You need to make sure you get safe first, and I think we're pretty much there, which is brilliant, and as soon as we tick that off we're looking to fight for top six.
"If you look at the teams that are below us, you've got Aberdeen, Hibs, Dundee United, all big clubs, big budgets, and we're competing very well.
"When you even look below that, one of the teams that I've been most impressed with, St Mirren, they're picking up a wee bit more form, so we need to make sure we keep working hard, take it game by game, and if we get to a stage where we're in top six, and got the tally that you would reckons secures it, then we'd maybe sit and talk about higher things.
"Just now, we want to stay in the league, which I think we've had a hell of a good start, and as soon as that's done we'll look to tick off top six, but we'll take it one step at a time.
"If you're a good side you'll finish where you deserve to finish, and that's what we're hoping to do."
O'Donnell is looking forward to heading to Tynecastle and hopes to come back with three points.
Both sides have a 2-0 home win so far this season, and O'Donnell reckons Motherwell edged both.
He said: "I think it's one of the venues I enjoy playing at because the atmosphere is, at times, volatile, especially if you can get a couple of good things.
"It can turn quickly at Tynecastle, but equally whenever they're doing well it can give them an extra lift.
"We're looking forward to it, it will be a good atmosphere and hopefully a good game, and hopefully one, more importantly. that we can win.
"It was two games that were close. You could argue that we probably had the better chances of the two games, but we didn't seem to take them. They got a penalty and a free kick [at Tynecastle] and, as I said, when they get their tails up at Tynecastle it's a hard place to come back.
"We've certainly got nothing to fear, we look forward to it, it's a big game.
"They're above us in the league, it's always got an extra bit of spice whenever it's a team that's just above you, so hopefully we can close the gap.
"But naturally they're going to be sitting there saying the exact same thing, to extend the gap and cement third place.
"We're hoping to go, have a good performance, and get the result."
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