Manchester United play host to Aston Villa on Friday night looking to extend their unbeaten record in the Premier League to 10 matches.
Meanwhile, Villa travel to Old Trafford knowing that victory will move them to within one point of their second-placed opponents in the standings.
Sitting four points adrift of second position with a game in hand, Smith deserves the widespread praise that he has received for transforming Villa from a relegation-threatened side into a club which now have genuine ambitions to finish in the top four.
However, Villa's recent performances have come without any added pressure on their shoulders, and it remains to be seen how they will cope with expectations rising significantly among their fanbase.
With 24 matches still to play, Smith will stress that his players cannot afford to get ahead of themselves when consistency could be a deciding factor come the end of the season.