Rafael van der Vaart has warned his Tottenham team-mates that they risk losing ground in their push for a top-four finish unless they start to improve their record against the league's weaker teams.
Spurs head into the festive period in fifth position on the back of an eight-match unbeaten run in all competitions, which stretches back to the start of November.
The Londoners' outlook could have been much brighter had they not been defeated by the likes of West Ham and Wigan, both of whom sit inside the relegation zone.
Van der Vaart has been encouraged by Spurs' performances in the draws against big teams like Manchester City and Chelsea and the win over bitter rivals Arsenal, but insists the team must beat the division's poorer teams in order to ensure they qualify for next year's Champions League.
Looking ahead to Spurs' games against Aston Villa, Newcastle, Fulham and Everton over the festive period, the Dutchman said: "We have to win our games and have confidence that we will be in the top four.
"It will be hard work. There are a lot of good teams but we play well against the big teams and some of the small clubs we have our problems."
Harry Redknapp's assistant Kevin Bond is also aware of the damage that could be done by a dip in form over the next two weeks and has challenged the team to extend their unbeaten run.
"If we could go through that Christmas and New Year period unbeaten that would be great," said Bond.
"That would keep us there or thereabouts and they are all games you would hope to get something from.
"With so many games coming over a short space of time, if you don't get some decent results then you can take yourself out of the running and we can't afford to do that so we need to keep at it."
Van der Vaart will be fit to play in Tottenham's Boxing Day clash at Villa Park having recovered from the hamstring injury which has sidelined him for the past three weeks.
The 27-year-old, who has made a stunning impact since his summer move from Real Madrid, scored both goals in Spurs' 2-1 win over Villa at White Hart Lane in October and is convinced that he and his team-mates will beat Gerard Houllier's beleaguered side.
"I played there (at Villa Park) once with the national team against England. It's a nice stadium and they are a great team," Van der Vaart added on Spurs TV online.
"When we played them at home it was difficult but it was a nice game. I expect a difficult match but we're going to win."
The next few weeks are expected to be busy for Redknapp in the transfer market.
The Spurs boss is expected to move on some of his fringe players in order to boost transfer funds for new signings.
Jamie O'Hara and Robbie Keane have been linked with basement boys West Ham while it is thought that David Bentley could be a target for neighbours Fulham.
Another player who could leave White Hart Lane is Mexico midfielder Giovani Dos Santos, who has struggled to make an impact since his move from Barcelona two years ago and was sent on loan to Ipswich last season.
Dos Santos' father and agent Zizinho Dos Santos told Spanish newspaper AS today that there is "enormous interest" in his son, who has been linked with Spanish side Real Zaragoza.
