Even before a ball had been kicked, John Dalziel, coach of the reigning champions Melrose, tipped Heriot's as the danger men in the 2014/15 BT Premiership title race and the wily Borderer's assessment has been amply vindicated.

Initially, at least, it didn't seem the Edinburgh side would fulfil their potential when they lost their opening fixture at home to Glasgow Hawks but, subsequently, they have triumphed in seven of eight contests and are top the table at the halfway stage in the campaign.

There isn't any great secret to their success, according to their indefatigable coach Phil Smith. They have pace out wide, power in their pack and, most encouragingly from his perspective, there is increasing competition for places at the club with between 70 and 80 players turning up for the Tuesday and Thursday training sessions.

So too, Heriot's have shrugged off their reputation as being like the little girl in the nursery rhyme: they might still produce occasional slip-ups and blunder into trouble in search of an adventurous approach but there is new consistency and even a willingness to win ugly if required.

"Going down to Hawks wasn't the ideal platform for us, but it showed us exactly what we needed to do and I am delighted with how the boys have responded," said Smith, whose charges will have the opportunity for revenge at Anniesland on Saturday. "I think we always knew the last three games would be a big test, but we gained two points against Melrose [in a remarkable 44-43 defeat] and we have since got the better of Ayr [25-7] and Gala [30-12 at Netherdale], so that has really pushed us forward.

"It is a different dynamic this season with teams striving to make sure that they finish in the play-offs. Even when sides are losing, they are doing their utmost to chase a losing bonus point or a try bonus and it makes for exciting stuff. Even when we were trailing 44-22 at Melrose, we were thinking: 'Let's get the fourth try.' Then, once we managed that, the lads suddenly thought: 'We can win this.' And they very nearly did. I have no doubt it will be like that for the rest of the winter."

Smith is an articulate advocate of the grassroots game and does not buy into the notion of Scotland's amateur circuit being a second-rate milieu, compared to the fare served up by well-paid professionals who play their trade at Glasgow and Edinburgh.

On the contrary, as he observes, there is an incredible amount of sweaty graft and honest toil being expended by his personnel and those at the other Premiership organisations. "The incentive of being involved in the play-offs has made a difference and I know that from speaking to the other coaches and the players at all the clubs.

"There is a huge difference between qualifying for the top four and being dragged into a dogfight at the bottom. It looked as if Edinburgh Accies were really struggling a fortnight ago, but they have won two on the bounce, and there are five or six clubs who will be concerned about how things are going.

"I am not starry-eyed about the standard of the league. There are some good games, some great games, and some rubbish games, but that applies equally to the professional tournaments as well as to ourselves. What I will say is that if we end up with Ayr [who are on 33 points, two behind Heriot's], Gala [29] and Melrose [26] in the play-offs, there could be some fantastic battles.

"The goal is quite simple: to maintain our form and consistency during the second half of the Premiership. If we achieve that, I am pretty confident we will be in the mix for the title next spring."

Smith isn't some cock-eyed optimist. He recognises how swiftly fortunes can change, but Heriot's have added some extra ingredients to their plate this time around and it would be a brave person who would dismiss their prospects as the winter schedule intensifies.