Complacency can sneak up on you like that power bill or holiday calories.
Before you know it you are letting your belt out a notch, pawning the family heirlooms and wondering how you managed to get so smug.
No-one suggesting the Steel camp is complacent ahead of its game against the struggling Canterbury Tactix in Invercargill tonight.
In fact, it should be the complete opposite.
Every goal will count for the Steel with goal percentage shaping as a crucial factor in determining who grabs the final play-off place.
Still, it is hard to imagine the players have not cast a dismissive eye to the future.
After all, the last time the teams met was when the Steel demolished the Tactix 66-38.
The 28-goal winning margin was the biggest in the franchise's history.
The Tactix have shown little improvement since, even losing to to the previously winless Central Pulse late last month.
The Steel has been on a different trajectory.
In the last two weeks it has beaten the highly-rated Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic and thumped the defending champions the Melbourne Vixens.
The wins have lifted the Steel (12) into fourth place and, understandably, confidence has soared.
Talk of a play-off spot is not just idle chat - it is a distinct possibility.
Two wins from the final three round-robin matches might be enough to seal a place in the semis.
But with tough matches against the Mystics in Auckland and the unbeaten New South Wales Swifts in Sydney later this month, the Steel cannot afford to drop the ball against the Tactix.
The Queensland Firebirds are snapping at the Steel's heals.
They trail the Steel by two competition points but have a dream run home, with games against the three bottom-placed teams.
The Brisbane-based team should win all three and lift its points haul from 10 to 16.
The Steel can book a second consecutive play-off spot by winning all three games.
But it is likely to come unstuck in Sydney.
It has never won a ANZ Championship game across the Tasman.
So if the Steel beats the Tactix and Mystics it will be tied with the Firebirds on 16 points.
Goal percentage will decide who progresses.
Another 28-goal drubbing of the Tactix will help the Steel's case.
With that in mind, the Steel will look to exploit is height and experience advantage at the attack end.
Daneka Wipiiti has found some good form in recent weeks.
She has got more movement into her game and her trademark strength in the air has returned.
Her combination with captain and goal attack Megan Dehn is flourishing and, with livewire wing-attack Liana Barrett-Chase providing good service, the Steel has a potent attack and should get the better of Canterbury defenders Charlotte Kight and Victoria Smith.
The Tactix have really struggled on attack with shooters Anna Thompson (79.9%) and Ellen Halpenny (72.9%) both shooting under 80%.
They will have to contend with former Silver Fern defender Leana de Bruin and in-form goal defence Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit.
The pair have established a formidable partnership at the back for the Steel.
De Bruin is the fifth leading defensive rebounder in the tournament and is eighth in intercepts.
Selby-Rickit has recorded two more intercepts and is in seventh place.
The Mystics kept their semifinal hopes alive with a 62-53 win over Australia's West Coast Fever in Auckland on Saturday.
Led by another slick shooting performance from Cathrine Latu, who netted 40 from 41, the Mystics notched their sixth win of the season to draw level on points with the fourth-placed Steel.
The fast-starting Central Pulse sniffed an upset before normal transmission resumed against the Queensland Firebirds in Brisbane on Saturday.
The Firebirds won 49-39 at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, handing the Wellington-based Pulse its 10th defeat of the season.
