Gabbidon is up for a cup lift
The winless run that got manager Neil Warnock the sack last weekend was extended to 10 matches on Sunday when Rangers lost 1-0 at Newcastle in Mark Hughes' first game in charge.
That saw them sucked into the Premier League bottom three and left them in the thick of a relegation dogfight.
They will be expected to stop the rot in Tuesday night's FA Cup third-round replay, something defender Gabbidon believes could be vital to their survival hopes.
"A victory would certainly put some confidence back into the team going into Saturday's game against Wigan," the 32-year-old told Rangers' official website. "Cup runs can be a bit of a distraction when you are not doing well in the league but it can also work the other way.
"It can act as a springboard to go on a winning run and that is how we are looking at it.
"We want to put in a good performance and win the game."
Gabbidon was taking nothing for granted against League One high-flyers MK Dons, who came within minutes of a cup upset in the original fixture a week and a half ago.
"MK Dons are a good side," Gabbidon said. "We knew that ahead of the original tie because they are doing well in the league and they play good football.
"They didn't look out of place against us at their place and we know we have no right to win this match.
"We need to make sure we impose ourselves on them. It is going to be a tough game and we are going to have to play well to beat them."
Despite Sunday's defeat, Gabbidon was adamant QPR had already improved under Hughes, who the defender previous played under for Wales.
"I thought we looked a bit better in every department," Gabbidon said.
"We defended better as a team and created chances. I didn't think we deserved to lose the game so there were definitely a lot of positives to take from it.
"Everyone has been upbeat.
"Training has been sharp and everyone has taken it on board straight away.
"Everyone is coming to training with a spring in their step."