Leicester City must look to kick on in 2013 if their promotion ambitions are to become a reality, says assistant manager Craig Shakespeare.
City will be looking to start the new year with a win over Huddersfield Town at the King Power Stadium today.
If they claim the points it will be the third consecutive time they have begun a new year with a victory.
Shakespeare said City had done well in the first half of the season and now sit in fifth place, seven points behind the leading two, but they now need to step up their efforts if they are to achieve their goal.
"The ambition is promotion," he said. "We have never been frightened to use the word promotion. It is what we are after and what we are striving for.
"All the staff and players feel we have enough ability to make an impact in this league in the second half of the campaign. That is our aim.
"It is very important to stay in the top six and it was important that we didn't let too much of a gap appear to the top two.
"It is important we stay there and now kick on in the new year."
City will be big favourites to take the win today against a Huddersfield side that have not won in their previous nine games, having claimed just five points from a possible 27.
However, Shakespeare said City could not afford to become complacent and highlighted their disappointing home draw against Barnsley as an example.
"You have to ignore form," he said. "I remember Barnsley going to Birmingham and winning 5-0 and Peterborough winning at Cardiff. Barnsley took a point against us too.
"The results are there for everyone to look at so you have to make sure you are as professional as you can be.
"We have to start properly and have the intent to win the game."
"I would put our win at Huddersfield earlier in the season as one of our best team performances of the season.
"The players can take a lot of heart out of that but they have to make sure they replicate it.
"We know teams can make it difficult when they come to the King Power.
"We have said before there are no easy games. If you take your foot off the pedal it can bite you on the bum.
"We have to maintain the energy levels and, hopefully, with the crowd behind us, we can continue our good home form."
