Liam Lawrence has told Setanta Sports that he feels Stoke have proven themselves as a Premier League side.
Stoke were odds on favourites to be relegated last season when promoted via the play-off in 2008. Irish bookmakers Paddy Power paid out to punters who bet on The Potters to go down in 2009, after their opening day 3-1 defeat at Bolton.
However, Tony Pulis' men confounded the critics and stayed up comfortably, and this season are in 11th place with nine games to go. Ireland international Lawrence feels that the experience gained in a full season of top-flight football has helped Stoke to survive comfortably this year.
"We have got more experienced, and learnt to deal with playing the top players every week. It means that it does not become such a big feat to play against them," he exclusively told Setanta Sports.
"We have got through this year well. We are on 36 points now, twelve clear of the drop zone. We are no longer looking over out shoulders, but at catching those in front of us.
"It is quite strange for a team in their second season (in The Premier League after promotion) to be where we are, but it is down to the hard work of the squad and the manager."
He admits that the Stoke side had been motivated by the Paddy Power slur last year.
"Last season, people had written us off after the first three games, saying that we would be down by Christmas.
"The lads were laughing about the bookies paying out on us to be relegated. It was just daft, and it left them with egg on their face. We proved people wrong."
Stoke take on Tottenham at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday, in a game LIVE on Setanta Ireland (kick off 3pm), a week after playing out a goalless draw with Aston Villa. Lawrence expects Harry Redknapps's men to offer another tough test.
"Spurs are a very good side, so are Villa. Last week was a really tough game against Villa, and I am sure Spurs will give us an equal test.
"When teams come to our place, we have to make sure we don't let ourselves down."