Steve Bruce hopes his revitalised Wigan side can give themselves the perfect Christmas gift by climbing out of the Barclays Premier League drop zone.
Wigan play managerless relegation rivals Fulham at Craven Cottage tomorrow knowing that victory could take them out of the bottom three for the first time since early November.
Bruce said: "We are in a league of about eight. At the moment we are second bottom of that eight. By the end of the season we must make sure we are not in the bottom three.
"If you can beat your rivals it will always help. Fulham will be saying exactly the same.
"The big bonus for us is that if we can beat them, and with the other games at the bottom, it's a possibility we can get out of the bottom three, which will be a huge thing going into the Christmas period."
Wigan have taken four points from three games since Bruce took control, while Fulham's poor run - they have lost their last three matches and won just twice all season - today cost manager Lawrie Sanchez his job.
And the Latics travel to London buoyed by ending their 13-match winless streak last weekend with a thrilling 5-3 success against Blackburn Rovers.
"We have only won one game but you can see the difference in training. All of a sudden the monkey is off our back a little bit," Bruce added.
"The manner of it has given everyone a lift and a belief again that we are not a bad team. It was a good win for us and a good boost and it's vitally important now that we follow that up in the game against Fulham.
"It's only one win and we have to go to Fulham and make sure we have the same attitude and application that we did last week and make sure we get a result."
None of the league's bottom five clubs have won away from home so far this season, which for Wigan goes against their recent history.
In their first season in the top flight the Latics won eight times on their travels and even last season, when they avoided relegation on the final day by winning at Sheffield United, they tasted victory five times away from home.
Bruce is keen to rekindle that kind of form and knows that a first away win off the back of last week's victory over Blackburn would put his side in good shape for the crucial holiday programme.
"It's essential if you can get it, especially when you are playing your rivals like Fulham," said the Latics boss, who could be able to include Emile Heskey following his rapid recovery from an ankle injury.
"Can we go down there and win? If we can, we go into Christmas on a really positive note rather than one where a couple of weeks ago we were near enough adrift and we can't afford that, that's for sure.
"It's a vitally important time which usually sorts out a few issues because there are so many games. Thankfully for us we have got two at home. They are going to be difficult because after Fulham we have got Newcastle and Villa coming.
"But I have been very encouraged by what I've seen against Blackburn and Man City at home. If we can keep that form then we'll give ourselves a chance."
