Keep in mind an end-goal of your opposing counsel being your ally in the other room at mediation...Establishing a good and cooperative relationship with your opponent during litigation, helps later on when seeking resolution. The converse is true also.

While it is necessary to include sufficient space with which to move your numbers, when the other side recognizes the reasonableness of your starting number, and/or your moves, it often triggers "reciprocity" -if not dollar for dollar, at least proportionally.