Clarke Carlisle is confident Burnley can prove the pundits wrong as they prepare for a crucial phase of the Premier League season.
Recent results have seen the club slip into the relegation zone, but the defender insist the squad have the credentials to maintain their top-flight status as the battle for survival intensifies in a tightly contested bottom-half of the table.
"It's always been the serious stage, but you've got to the point now where you know where you're fighting," said Carlisle.
"The lads at the top know whose in contention for the title and the teams at the bottom are very well aware of who is around them and who they need to beat.
"Every game is vital from here on in and we need to keep the points tally ticking over.
"There are so many permutations; we just have to focus on ourselves and getting those wins to hit the 40 point mark.
"We would have taken this position at the start of the season because it's distinctly possible that when you are one of the promoted sides coming up you could be well adrift by now.
"We have done ever so well to make sure that didn't happen, but contrasting that we believe we could have been in a better position.
"We have been written off since the season began and I think a lot of people are surprised that we still have our heads above water but it's immaterial to us.
"We have confidence in our own abilities and believe that we will go forward to attain enough points to stay in the league.
"It's not like that we are grateful to be where we are, but we do believe that we are in a good position to mount a safety challenge on this final lap."
The Clarets make the trip to Aston Villa for Sunday's televised clash, looking for a cure for their travel sickness, with just one point amassed on the road this season.
And after tackling some brain teasers himself on Channel 4's Countdown, Clarke hopes the squad can soon solve the conundrum of their own baffling away form.
"The manager is trying to address the away form and we are working on being a more secure unit and adapting our attacking play. It's pivotal that we maintain our home form and the win over West Ham was fantastic for morale," insisted Clarke.
"There are no excuses for the away form, we have tried to win games and there might have been a naivety in trying to do that.
"A lot of the squad including myself have very little Premiership experience and it's been a baptism of fire. These are not excuses, but things we need to address and there are slight adaptations to make. We will be strong going forward.
"Villa Park is steeped in heritage in the days of these modern super stadiums. There will be a fantastic atmosphere there and we just need to make sure we just focus on the job in hand which is securing some points away from home.
"I think Martin O'Neill has done a fantastic job; his integrity stands above all others. He has taken a bunch of young, hungry, professionals organised them and placed the necessary experience around to make them a winning team, without spending the millions which the top four have done.
"I have a lot of respect for him, but that goes out of the window on Sunday when we will be fighting tooth and nail for those points."
And with Burnley out to confound their critics on a team level, Clarke is also eager to prove that there are some intelligent footballers out there when he fulfils a lifetime ambition by appearing on his favourite TV programme, Channel 4's Countdown next week!
"That's what stereotypes are about, people who say there is no intelligence in football couldn't be further from the truth," added Carlisle.
"It's just like any working environment; you have a spectrum of intellect and ability. I don't think I'm an exception to any rule.
"It was very enjoyable being on Countdown which was the fulfilment of a lifelong ambition for me.
"I really wanted to do it, so I've ticked that box now and proven to myself that I can do it."
Don't forget to tune in to Countdown on Channel 4 on Wednesday 24th February to find out how Britain's Brainiest footballer fared!
