Manchester United may be struggling badly with injuries, but Ryan Giggs remains positive the team will do well.
The Welshman also stated they have no intention of giving up their position at the top of the Barclays Premier League.
Amazingly, having returned from the Club World Cup in Japan seven points adrift of Liverpool, United are now ahead of their north-west rivals on goal difference - with a game in hand.
It is a situation even Sir Alex Ferguson did not expect - and with the Old Trafford fixture against Everton brought forward 48 hours to Saturday teatime, a day before Rafael Benitez's men tackle Chelsea, few will be shocked if United are not headed for the rest of the campaign as they look to complete a title hat-trick.
As a veteran of all 10 previous Premier League championships, Giggs is aware life is seldom so straightforward. But the former Wales captain is adamant the Red Devils will be clinging on to top spot with all their might.
"Once you hit the front, you want to stay there," he said.
"We always try to be somewhere near at Christmas. If there are one or two points between the top two or three it is whoever goes into the last few weeks in form.
"But we know what the run-in is like, and there is no doubt we want the others chasing us rather than the other way round."
For Giggs, finishing top again would have special significance - because it would give him an 11th title, matching the number on his shirt that has been worn with such distinction for almost two decades.
Confirmation that Sir Alex Ferguson will offer him another year at the highest level was no shock - and while most pundits expect next season to be Giggs' last, the 35-year-old may still have an impact in 2011.
"I don't really think of it in these terms. But yes, it would definitely be nice to get 11," he agrees.
Although he has been used almost exclusively as an impact substitute during major games over the last 18 months, including the Champions League final, Giggs was told by Ferguson two weeks in advance of the meeting with Chelsea earlier this month that he would play a major role.
Given such advance warning, Giggs was able to prepare himself for a performance Michael Ballack could not cope with as Chelsea were put firmly in their place.
"I was really up for it," said Giggs.
"I had not started the previous games against the big four, so I was delighted to be told I was playing.
"You become a footballer to play in these big games. That is why it is great playing for United - because Chelsea was just one of many."
A visit to West Brom tomorrow does not rank quite so high. But it has turned out to be an important trip as United look to take the next step towards an unprecedented quadruple, or quintet - if the world championship triumph in Japan is taken into account.
Given they will be without a dozen senior men, including five defenders, it promises to be a stern test of United's resolve.
Darren Fletcher is expected to start at right-back, with Giggs handed one of the midfield berths as Ferguson looks to inject an element of freshness into his team following the weekend FA Cup win over Tottenham.
There was a time when West Brom could have expected to win this fixture as a matter of course, going 12 games undefeated against United on home soil - 10 of which were won - from during a 14-year spell from 1968.
All that has changed, though, with United victorious on their last five visits - and West Brom were swamped by four second-half goals at Old Trafford earlier this season.
That is not to say Giggs is taking anything for granted against Tony Mowbray's men.
"It is going to be tough," he predicted.
"I admire West Brom for the way they play. They outplayed us at times at Old Trafford earlier this season.
"Their passing and movement was excellent, and they are on a good run at the moment - especially at home - so we are under no illusions."
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