Leicester City may be buoyant after recording five consecutive victories but manager Nigel Pearson has warned testing times will be ahead.
City are second in the table after the opening 10 games and Pearson will use the present international break to reflect on his side's start.
But he has warned against over-confidence.
The feelgood factor may be evident around the King Power Stadium, but Pearson said City's character will be examined this season.
"This is a club that needs to be in the Premier League really, but like everyone else we have to deserve the right to get there.
"Just because at the moment things are going well, it doesn't mean we are not going to have difficult times throughout the season," he warned.
"That will happen, so we will try and continue to do the job in the correct manner.
"We have had a tough opening 10 games and responded well to a bit of an indifferent start, even though our performances were good.
"I am also a realist and I know this is a very tough league, very competitive and will remain so throughout the season.
"There will be tough times ahead, but I have every confidence in the group of players and the support staff. We all work exceptionally hard."
Pearson believes a lower points tally than in previous seasons may be enough for promotion, but he warned that was because this will be one of the most competitive Championship seasons ever.
"Although it will probably shape up slightly differently this season, over the last six or seven years to be in a play-off spot you need about 1.6 points a game and for an automatic spot from 2 points to 1.8," he said. "It shows how tight the league is.
"Looking at the table, there are a lot of sides who are doing very well so whether it pans out different this year I don't know. We will just try to maintain our level of performance."
