Aston Villa manager Unai Emery says his team is halfway to reaching the points likely needed for automatic qualification to the Champions League last 16.
Villa currently leads the Champions League table after three games, having secured nine points.
In the new 36-team league format, the top eight teams after eight matches move directly into the knockout rounds, while those finishing between ninth and 24th will need to play an additional play-off round in February for a place in the last 16.
Villa faces Club Brugge, who have one win and two losses so far, on Wednesday night.
Emery believes that a victory in Belgium would put them just a few points away from securing a top-eight finish.
“We have the possibility to get one step ahead in this competition, to be a contender in the top eight,” he said on Tuesday evening. “This is a really amazing objective we can achieve.”
“We are aware about the possibility to get the fourth victory, 12 points and the expectation for the next round to be in the top eight.
“Maybe it is 16, 17 points [needed]. The best teams in Europe, they will be there.”
Villa are playing in the top level of European club competition for the first time since the 1982-83 season, and have already claimed victory over one continental giant in Bayern Munich.
Emery said they expect to keep upsetting the odds.
“There will be some surprises if we are getting there, we are a surprise, we are not contenders or favourites to be in the top eight,” he said.
Villa will be without Matty Cash and Ross Barkley against Brugge, with Emery confirming the defender and midfielder have “small injuries”.