The 27-year-old scored the winner in Saturday's 3-2 win at Bolton, which lifted the Bluebirds up to sixth place.
"Cardiff's a big club. Everyone expects us to be right up there, and rightly so," Pilkington told BBC Radio Wales.
"I don't think you'll find a stronger subs bench in the whole Championship. There is real quality in the squad."
Cardiff have now lost just two of their last 11 games, keeping five clean sheets.
