Stoke manager Tony Pulis has admitted he will not be able to relax this season until his side have hit the magical 40-point barrier.
A run of just one defeat in their last ten Barclays Premier League matches since a 5-0 drubbing at Bolton in early November has propelled Stoke up to eighth and within 10 points of Pulis' target.
It seems inconceivable the Potteries outfit will be unable to achieve their boss' goal from the remaining 17 matches and retain their place in the top flight for what would be a fifth consecutive season.
However, until that stage, Pulis cannot rest as he said: "That 40-point barrier is everything, and I mean everything. We have to get Premier League status for next season again.
"It's the thing we desire at this football club, with everything else a sideshow in many respects.
"Premier League football is so, so important, and we have to make sure we are always focused on that.
"Of course, we enjoy the cup games, we enjoy the challenge, and I feel we've been able to balance things well since we came up into the Premier League. We've done pretty well in the cup competitions.
"But the focus is on those 40 points. We have to get that because it keeps us in the Premier League, and that is the case again this year, to get to 40 points as quick as we can."