COBBLERS manager Colin Calderwood says the next four games are all about position rather than a points total.
Town play a quartet of matches in eight days, starting with a Sixfields clash against Mansfield Town on Boxing Day.
And Calderwood wants his side to build on their current standing of fifth in Coca-Cola League Two, even if that means not going into the run of games with all guns blazing.
"We've not set a points target – it's about the position," he said. "We could take 12 points from these next matches and be fifth, or we could even move down the table.
"That could happen depending on how the other results go. We've obviously got to take a good points average and at the end of it we want to be closer to the top of the league than we are now.
"If we can do that it'll be good, but if we do it by only getting four draws then that won't be good.
"There's lots of ways to look at it and we've just got to keep nudging away.
"We've got to be determined and dogged and I can tell from the players they are totally focused on reaching that goal."
Calderwood has confirmed he is hoping to bring in players during the transfer window, with Rushden left-back Andy Burgess and a powerful striker at a Premiership club said to be top of his shopping list.
The Scotsman has confirmed that he is under no pressure to sell before he buys, but that he could be tempted if someone made him an offer that was simply too good to turn down.
"I'm very happy with the group we've got and what we obviously don't need is another injury," said Calderwood, whose side haven't lost in the league since the middle of October.
"Someone would need to come in and make an offer that the club couldn't refuse and that would obviously chance our position.
"I would like to add to what we've got and it would be adding to a squad that's already strong."
Town are set to welcome defender Jason Crowe back into the squad for Monday's game after injury, while Martin Smith is also likely to feature despite the fact he needed a pain-killing injection to play against Shrewsbury last weekend.
------------------
Mansfield CHAD: www.mansfieldtoday.co.uk
STAGS could face going into their crucial Festive programme without their potent strike force of Simon Brown and Richie Barker.
Manager Peter Shirtliff is hopeful both will shake off injuries to face Northampton Town on Boxing Day (3pm) - the start of a hectic four games in eight days period.
But he is clearly worried, particularly with fellow striker Chris Beardsley still sidelined long-term as he recovers from a broken leg.
Brown has a hamstring problem which is improving daily while Barker is suffering a new flare-up of the back problem that put him out earlier this season.
"It is worrying," admitted Shirtliff. "If any club in the country had three strikers out injured, they'd have a problem - particularly if two of them are up there near the top of the scoring charts.
"But if they don't make it then it will be up to someone else to step up to the plate and take their chance.
"Simon is coming on and he is running again. We are monitoring his progress daily and he is not without a chance for the Northampton game.
"Richie's back problem has flared up again and is causing him some discomfort. We'll have to see how it goes in the next few days.
"It is a problem he has had all season which we have managed as best as possible. Hopefully it will settle down quickly again."
Shirtliff feels this year's Festive schedule is a big ask of all the clubs.
"I can remember playing three times over the festive period as a player but never four times," he said.
"It is virtually impossible for players to fully recover and the Football League should address this in my opinion.
"There is no chance this would happen on the continent.
"Having said that, everyone is in the same boat, and we will just have to get on with it as best we can.
"I will be speaking to the players tomorrow about their responsibilities. Playing football is a very privileged thing to do for a living and you have to be professional about it and subdue your festivities.
"I know the fans love to get out to a game on Boxing Day and I remember I enjoyed it too as a player."