Motherwell manager Graham Alexander believes the Steelmen have been shown what lies ahead of them this season ahead of Sunday's match with Rangers.
Wednesday's 2-2 draw at home with St Mirren brought an end to the first cycle of Premiership games, with Motherwell sixth in the table. They drew 1-1 with Rangers at Ibrox last month.
Alexander's men are without a win in four matches ahead of hosting the league champions on Sunday.
The match comes off the back of news this week that legendary Rangers boss - and Alexander's ex-Scotland manager - Walter Smith had sadly passed away at 73. A competitive match is expected by the 'Well leader.
"You saw the value of the game against St Mirren," said Alexander. "It was two teams who want to achieve good things and it was a competitive game.
"The reigning champions are coming to the ground. It adds an extra dimension to the game. We will have a full crowd and there will be the emotional side of it after the sad passing of Walter Smith.
"That will come into it. We understand the quality of the league, which I think is very high. We have to be our best all the time. Nobody will give us anything, we have to earn it."
Alexander says Motherwell's start to the season has been positive, but warns that improvements must be made to sustain it.
"We look at it in that we had a very good start to the season," explained Alexander. "The last three or four games have been extremely difficult, but you have to remember the quality of opposition.
"If we'd looked at the start of the season and said this is the points tally we would have after the first round in the league, we would have taken it.
"There's improvements to be made. We are getting players up to speed with how we want to work. We know what challenges are ahead of us."
Wednesday's draw with St Mirren proved controversial. Motherwell were 2-0 up but at 2-1, referee Bobby Madden blew for a Saints penalty after a foul by 'Well defender Sondre Solholm Johansen.
Goalkeeper Liam Kelly saved Eammon Brophy's attempt, but it was retaken and scored with the Steelmen's number one deemed off his line, much to the annoyance of everyone at Fir Park.
“I don’t think it was a penalty but I got up in the morning and I am focusing on the next game,” Alexander added.
“Emotions run high immediately after a game. We all have a real tough job in football – managers, coaches, players and officials.
“It’s given me time to reflect overnight and, listen, we know the officials have instant decisions to make. It’s extremely tough but we understand where they come from.
“We all make mistakes, all of us. If you ask the officials if we made mistakes last night, they will say we did. That’s the game. We will focus on our game-plan, what we can do better.”
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