First team coach Mark O'Connor believes City can last the pace in the upper reaches of the Championship as long as new signings arrive.
The Potters currently sit top of the table after impressive back-to-back wins over Cardiff City and Charlton Athletic.
But with the transfer window set to slam shut in just over a week, he is itching to get new arrivals into the club.
Speaking to the press on Thursday morning he said: "You'd like to think that with three or four additions we would become a real force.
"That's what we are aiming for because we know we could really be up there this season, but we need a couple of players in.
"It hasn't been easy to get them in though, because like us nobody wants to sell their best players, and certainly not to teams in the same division.
"The value of players has also increased to ridiculous amounts; there are a couple of players we wanted last year who have now become available but they are far dearer now than they were before.
"I know the manager keeps banging on about it, but we will only bring in players who are better than what we have, and believe me we are trying to get them."
Increased speculation over the past week has linked skipper Danny Higginbotham with a move to Premiership new boys Sunderland, and O'Connor says he doesn't want to lose the highly-rated defender.
Saying: "I think it sends out the wrong vibes if your captain leaves the club, he won player of the year comfortably last season, and he can score goals.
"He is somebody we certainly don't want to lose, but I am aware that everybody does have a price.
"He is still here though and we have rejected a couple of offers for him. If he is fit on Saturday he will be part of the squad."
If Danny does fail to recover from his foot injury, picked up during the Carling Cup defeat at Rochdale, loanee Jody Craddock could make his second start for the Potters, and the City coach says he has been very impressed by the experienced stopper so far.
"Jody came in on Saturday and we met him at 4pm in the dressing room, but he seemed like he had been here all season.
"He is a brilliant lad, his effort in training has been terrific and he is someone we would like to add to the squad permanently," he adds.
