Bruce's side could go fifth if they beat Bolton on Saturday after the Black Cats enjoyed a fine start to their Premier League campaign.
And the manager believes if his players can maintain their impressive form that could propel them into continental competition next year.
"I would say we have the nucleus of Sunderland's best squad for a long time," said Bruce. "But it is important that we keep improving.
"We haven't had the players here to handle the levels of expectation since the (Niall) Quinn and (Kevin) Phillips days.
"Our players have to overcome the big ground and big crowd. Being at a club like this comes with expectation and it comes very quickly.
"Bolton have been in this division for 10 years, while this club has been down three times in that space of time and in two of those seasons we finished with 19 and 15 points in the Premier League.
"How and why I just do not know. Even Blackpool and Wigan give it a go."
Sunderland endured a difficult campaign last season and flirted with a relegation battle before pulling away into mid-table safety.
But Bruce has assembled a team that is competing at the right end of the division this time out, aided by big money signings like Asamoah Gyan.
The 49-year-old reckons the next four weeks will be crucial to any European tilt, although he is confident Sunderland's time has now arrived.
"It is enough to get in the Premier League for most clubs and to survive, but not here," Bruce explained.
"That level of expectation is strange because there has not been much success in the North East over the years, but it is there because the area loves its football.
"It is everything to them. Whether can we can make a push for Europe, the next six weeks will tell us.
"The January period usually sorts out where you'll be. Those four games will be a huge part of where we will finish up. Can we get to the top 10 and compete for Europe? Why not?"
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