Mick McCarthy accepts Wolves' two impending showdowns against Black Country rivals West Brom could define their season.
Wolves take on the Baggies on Sunday knowing they still have to face their neighbours at Molineux before the season ends.
Wanderers may have lost to Arsenal last weekend to go rock-bottom of the Premier League, but they have claimed some impressive scalps this term over giants such as Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool.
After watching his men struggle against less high-profile sides, McCarthy feels it is their fellow relegation candidates they must now target, particularly with things so tight in the bottom half of the table.
He told the Express & Star: "It's what we do against West Brom, Blackpool and the rest that will define our season. We aren't where we are because of our result on Saturday against Arsenal.
"We are where we are because of our results against West Ham, Wigan, Bolton and Fulham.
"Suddenly if we were on 27 points, things would look much brighter."
McCarthy believes Wolves and Albion face similar dilemmas this season because of their leaky defence.
He said: "That's why both teams are where they are. On Saturday they drew 3-3 against West Ham and we got pumped."
Despite being in the basement of the standings, Wolves' players remain optimistic and McCarthy feels they are right to stay confident.
He added: "I would hope the players are bullish about these last 12 games. Arsenal are better than us, so why beat ourselves up about it?
"We didn't play particularly well on Saturday but when we beat Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool we certainly did.
"The national press want to say those results happened because the opposition didn't perform at their best, but wasn't it because little old Wolves slapped them and played well?
"We tried to do the same on Saturday but Arsenal did it to us."
