Having spent virtually the entire campaign on the sidelines with injury last season, Swansea City skipper Garry Monk knows never to take anything for granted.
But having battled back bravely from a severe knee injury to reclaim his place as the rock in the Swans defence, Monk firmly believes that the good times are just around the corner at the Liberty Stadium as the Swans fly high at the top of League One.
And apart from his own personal goals, the former Southampton defender believes the squad has one ingredient that will prove a recipe for success come the end of the season - team spirit.
Having joined the Swans at the start of the 2004-05 season from Premiership Southampton, Monk has experienced life at the likes of home-town club Torquay, Stockport, Oxford, Sheffield Wednesday and Barnsley.
But he is quick to declare that there is nothing quite like life at SwanseaCity.
"Life at Southampton was brilliant,'' explained Monk, 28, who moved to the Saints from Torquay. "But SwanseaCity really is something special.
"I'm a big believer that team spirit is everything, and I've got no qualms in saying that the team spirit at Swansea is the best I've ever known at any club I've been at.''
And according to Monk, that team spirit has been achieved through a conscious effort rather than just by chance, especially when you consider how many new players and different nationalities arrived at the Liberty over the summer.
The Swans squad is now truly cosmopolitan with Angel Rangel, Guillem Bauza and Andrea Orlandi arriving from Spain; Dorus de Vries and Ferrie Bodde jetting in from Holland; plus Jason Scotland joining up with fellow Trinidad & Tobago internationals Dennis Lawrence and Kevin Austin.
Throw in a few Irish, Scots, English and Welsh and the Liberty is like the United Nations these days.
"All the new players comment that they can't believe the team spirit at the club,'' adds Monk. "As captain I feel it's my responsibility to make sure it is right.
"From the first time they walk through the door, all the players make a conscious effort to give them a warm welcome - even Warren Feeney!
"We try and get them involved in things straight away, including the banter in the dressing room. That way they feel part of the club within days rather than months, which does happen at some clubs.
"It's even more important for the foreign lads because they are not only coming to a strange club, but also a strange country. I think the foreign lads, in particular, appreciate that.
"We all have breakfast and dinner together before and after training which also helps to bring everyone closer together.
"But it's not just about the dressing room; we make a conscious effort to help them as much as we can off the field; whether that's helping them find somewhere to live, buy a car, open a new bank account or even a school for their children.
"I firmly believe it's having the desired effect because despite the fact that we've got so many different characters at the club, none of them clash.''
Monk feels that togetherness and team spirit was evident a few weeks ago when Roberto Martinez's side came under fire from the Swansea faithful who felt theperformances throughout September were not up to scratch.
The rumblings of discontent were evident from the Liberty stands and culminated in young Marcos Painter receiving unwarranted abuse from one so-called fan during Swansea's goalless draw against Brighton.
"While it's always a minority who start the booing, that minority was growing,'' added Monk. "It was obviously hard to take, but I think it brought us even closer together as a squad.
"We had a meeting before the Swindon game and said that no matter what happens around us, we would stick together and keep going right to the very end. If it wasn't to be, then so be it.
"But we got the win and the huddle at the end was just to highlight that our team spirit would never let us down. It said we were all in it together.''
It has certainly had the desired effect after last Saturday's 4-1 win at AFC Bournemouth took Monk and his Swans to the top of League One with a quarter of the season gone.
And having suffered so many low points last season watching helplessly from the sidelines as the Swans just failed to snatch a late place in the play-offs, the defender is delighted to be out there leading from the front - or the back in Monk's case.
"I'd be lying if I said I didn't go through some really low points last season,'' he added. "It made me look at everything in my life, not just football.
"At the time my mother was also suffering from cancer, so however bad I was feeling I knew there were people out there a lot worse off than myself. It put things into perspective and I just had to knuckle down and do my rehab.''
The fact that Monk was also out of contract didn't help matters. But while he admitted that his agent received a few enquiries for his services from other clubs, he only had eyes for the Swans.
He eventually signed a new one-year contract with the option of a second year if he played 25 competitive first team games - a target he's already close to reaching.
And after watching Monk turn in some superb performances at the back already this season, he's already repaid that faith.
The decision to sacrifice his foreign holiday for a summer in Torquay working on his fitness with a personal trainer has certainly paid off as Monk looks stronger than ever.
Quizzed as to whether he was surprised to regain his place in the side so quickly after such a long lay-off, Monk declared: "I'm not surprised at all. I know what I am capable of and where I want to be.
"I know I've got to keep working hard to keep my place in the team, but I'm happy with my fitness levels at the moment. I've still got bits to work on, but I got a good pre-season under my belt and I think it's paying off.
"I remember being so tired in the last five minutes of the Walsall Carling Cup game at the start of the season, but since then I've been getting stronger with every game.''
One thing the long lay off hammered home to Monk, however, was not to take football for granted. While learning a lot tactically watching from the stands, he also educated himself a lot more about the preparation and recovery process.
Monk still does two 45-minute strengthening sessions a week on his own in the gym after training.
"It's not just weights, but a lot of stretching and jumps,'' he adds. "I don't do it because I'm afraid the injury will come back; the knee is not weak anymore. I do it because I know I benefit from it; it has made me physically a lot stronger.''
The recovery process has also played a major role in Monk's successful come back this season.
"I do a lot of recovery work. It's a conscious thing and something the gaffer and the physio staff push hard. I've known about the benefits of the right recovery throughout my career, but I learnt a lot more about it when I was injured.
"I've learnt that fluid intake is very important and I use a lot of supplements and protein shakes.''
Monk also swears by the dreaded ice bath and makes a daily trip to the Liberty Stadium to suffer the process that speeds up muscle recovery.
"It's not pleasant, but I feel I benefit from it,'' explains Monk. "The likes of Jason Scotland, Kevin Austin and Dennis Lawrence won't go near an ice bath, but then Marcos Painter and Darren Pratley are big fans like me.
"In fact the huge amount of ice Marcos puts in the bath is unbelievable; ridiculous in fact. But you've got to laugh; once he's in there he doesn't understand why he can't feel his legs!
Premiership bound
Garry Monk has a lot to thank Swans boss Roberto Martinez for and believes the Swans have unearthed a potential Premiership manager.
"The gaffer has been a massive help to me,'' explained Monk. "I was still injured when time he took over from Kenny Jackett; and when any new manager comes in you are always concerned about your future - especially when you are out of contract at the end of the season.
"But he told me to take as much time as possible to get myself right and to let him know if there was anything I needed.
"He checked up on me every day - as he does with all the boys - and made me feel wanted.
"I've got to give him a massive thanks for that; together with all the coaches and physio staff who worked so hard with me.
"Roberto was the ultimate pro as a player and he's the same as a manager, even though this is his first job. He knows football inside out.
"He's also got the advantage of not just knowing the British market, but the foreign market as well.
"When friends from other clubs ring me up and ask about him, I tell them he's going to be a top, top, manager.''
INTERVIEW: Jonathan Wilsher
