Manchester United will not be lulled into a false sense of security by Leicester City's struggles, according to Chris Smalling, who says they will instead be focusing on the attributes that saw the Foxes become Premier League champions.
Last season's title triumph was one of the most remarkable feats in sporting history, with Leicester going from relegation candidates to champions.
That campaign has been followed by a fall that leaves Claudio Ranieri's men two points above the Premier League drop zone ahead of the weekend fixtures.
Smalling has been surprised by how far Leicester have fallen, but he says there will be little chance of complacency creeping in when United head to the King Power Stadium on Sunday.
"Yes, I think I am [surprised by where they are right now] and I think a lot of people are,'' Smalling, who opened the scoring when United beat the Foxes 4-1 at Old Trafford in September, told MUTV. "Whether they were going to be challenging for the title again or not, I'd expect them to be higher than they are.
"But I don't think we can forget their qualities which made them the champions, the current champions. So I think we need to be more wary of their potential threats and what they did last year, rather than the situation they find themselves in now.''
Aside from N'Golo Kante, Leicester have retained the core of last season's team, yet the same players have been unable to scale the heights they managed last term.
Jamie Vardy is chief among them, with his goals having dried up, managing just five in the league this season.
Smalling said of his England teammate: "Whether or not he's on a roll of scoring however many goals last season, I think he's someone who will always give his all for the team.
"And no matter their situation or how many goals he's scored, he won't let it rest. You know that when you've got the ball, you'll have a few seconds less than you would in the majority of games.''
The respect is mutual as Vardy named Smalling as the toughest defender he has faced in the Premier League.
"Yes it is [nice to hear that], and especially when Jamie's one of those players that the majority of defenders would find very hard to play against,'' Smalling said. "I'd say that as well because of his unpredictability, his pace and his work rate, so to hear that -- and I did read that -- it gives you a little smile when they see that you're a bit of a pest to them.''
Smalling may well get the chance to come up against Vardy on Sunday given Phil Jones is set to miss the match with a foot injury.
Eric Bailly's return from the African Nations Cup means a start is by no means assured, though, especially with Daley Blind and Marcos Rojo also offering options in the centre of defence.
"I think in training we're often playing with different partners and in any given game you never know what sort of forwards you're going to be up against,'' Smalling said.
"I think a lot of that understanding is based around our training and what we do on a daily basis but I feel very comfortable with all of them and likewise they all feel comfortable because we play with each other every day.''