Leicester City have shown they can compete with the elite of the Premier League but manager Nigel Pearson believes Saturday's clash with Burnley is even more important.
City have impressed against Everton, Chelsea, Arsenal and, especially, Manchester United, picking up five points from those games.
However, Pearson says City must bank points against the sides considered to be their direct rivals for survival in the Premier League, like fellow new boys Burnley.
The Clarets finished behind City in the Championship title race last season but have made a slow start to their challenge this season and Pearson believes City must target three points this weekend.
"We have to be careful we don't underplay the importance of any game but it goes without saying the sides that are potentially going to be closer to us, we have to make sure we win enough of those games," said Pearson.
"The likes of Manchester United and Arsenal to a certain extent would be bonus games.
"I have to be careful how I say these things because I don't necessarily preach that openly as I want the players to adopt a positive mentality and I do think we are capable of winning games against any opponent.
"But, of course, when you play against a side who are promoted alongside ourselves, we have to do everything we can to make these games as tough as possible for our opponents.
"On the back of the result at Crystal Palace, we want to go into the international break on a winning note."
Pearson said despite last week's defeat at Selhurst Park he has been pleased with the start City had made to their season and believes they will get stronger as the campaign progresses.
"We have done very well in some respects, but you always have tooff the disappointment from a game like we experienced at the weekend," he said.
"We have played better for sure. We dominated possession for probably the first time this season but it was a result and a performance we think we could improve on.
"We still feel we have some very good chances at key moments we didn't take advantage of, so there are
things to work on as there always will be.
"I think what we can take from the first six games is the squad has the capability of performing against Premier League sides and we have scope for improvement.
"I have said that on a number of occasions and I stand by it."