Gary Caldwell is surprised Celtic have built a seven-point lead over Rangers in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League - but last season's title triumph has taught him to take nothing for granted.
Celtic trailed by seven points in April, yet went on to claim their third successive championship, so the Parkhead defender knows the same advantage in December counts for little.
Celtic have won all 12 SPL games since losing 4-2 at home to Rangers, and find themselves in a position they could not have imagined after that August defeat.
"I am a bit surprised," Caldwell said.
"We have obviously been on a great run. To win 12 games in any league is a great achievement.
"You have to be very consistent, very focused on what you are doing.
"Rangers dropping points has obviously surprised us because they are a great side.
"They showed in the first Old Firm game that they are a top team. They have made a few mistakes and we have been lucky enough to punish them for it."
Caldwell does not expect Rangers to repeat their weekend defeat to Hearts very often, and he knows they are capable of going on a similar run to Celtic's.
Walter Smith's side won 13 SPL games in a row last season, another fact which backs up Caldwell's caution.
"If you are as good as they are, in this league you are going to have to have a run where you win a lot of games," the Scotland defender said.
"We have to be ready for that. We found out last year that it's never over.
"We're in a position where we are ahead and we have to maintain that.
"We have to do what we have done over the last 12 games and keep winning football matches until it's mathematically done. There is a long way to go in the league."
Celtic will bid for their 13th win in a row when Caldwell faces his former club, Hibernian, at Easter Road on Sunday.
The winning run is a great source of pride to the former Newcastle player, especially as Celtic have faced a series of injuries to key players such as Aiden McGeady and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink.
"We have worked really hard," Caldwell said. "We have had injuries in the run that we have had.
"I think everyone who has been involved is very proud of it.
"It's not finished yet, we want to keep it going and see how many we can win on the bounce. It's a great achievement to win 12 and we want more.
"Every game that has come along in the run - we have had a lot with the Champions League in between - we went out with the mindset to try to win it.
"In the league, we have done it very well. In the Champions League, we have struggled a bit.
"Now we have just got the league, we want to keep it going."
While Caldwell aluded to Celtic's European exit, he is keen to forget about it as quickly as possible.
The club bounced back from their late collapse against Aalborg to beat Inverness 1-0 on Saturday and Caldwell is determined not to let the disappointment fester.
"As a footballer, you have to put things out your mind," the 26-year-old said.
"For all the result was terrible in Aalborg, the performance was pretty good.
"We have to keep believing in what we are doing.
"Things went against us that night. As a footballer, you take it on the chin, put it out your head and come back from it.
"We got a great result on Saturday against Inverness and we want to keep that going against Hibs on Sunday."
