Sam Allardyce believes one more win would rubber-stamp Crystal Palace's Premier League survival - but he has warned his players the three points will not come easy against Burnley on Saturday.
The former England boss has guided the Eagles to 12th in the table after a run of six wins from nine games moved them clear of the relegation zone.
A narrow 1-0 home defeat to title-chasing Tottenham checked Palace's progress but they have recorded impressive victories over Liverpool, Arsenal and leaders Chelsea in recent weeks.
Allardyce also still has to take his side to both Manchester City and Manchester United before the end of the campaign, with a visit from struggling Burnley up next.
Sean Dyche's men are just five points clear of the bottom three after a poor spell which has seen them win just once since January.
But Allardyce is keen to stress to his in-form stars that the Clarets will pose a different threat to that which they have overcome of late, with Palace sat on 38 points ahead of the Selhurst Park clash.
"We have to recognise the importance of Burnley being just as important as any of the games we have gone through," he said.
"The lads need to motivate themselves to get to the level they have been to beat Burnley and put it to bed once and for all, get past the 40-point mark and be safe. It is a big effort I will be asking for the players to give.
"Everyone says 'keep your mouth shut' you don't want it to bite you back but I think 41 points will be enough. I think I remember at Blackburn going to Chelsea away and being told we were safe.
"You have a Premier League plan and a Championship plan, hopefully you rub the Championship one out and write the Premier League one in ink. We are just sketching it in in pencil at the moment."
Palace will be without Liverpool loanee Mamadou Sakho for the game after the defender suffered what could prove to be a serious knee injury during the loss to Spurs.
Allardyce would not be drawn on the issue as he awaits the result of a scan, although he did admit he was hopeful of good news.
"I'd like to think it is not serious and he will get back before the end of the season but I'm not sure," he said.
"We are unable to say what the extent of the injury is at the moment. It didn't look to clever the way the knee hyperextended.
"Lets wait for the scan, will probably have to contact Liverpool depending on how serious the damage is. We can't speculate on if, when and how and the seriousness of the injury."
Damien Delaney is likely to deputise as Allardyce looks to inflict further woe on Dyche, even if he does appreciate what the Burnley boss has achieved.
"He has built a very good football club from top to bottom on the stability he has brought to Burnley," Allardyce said of his counterpart.
"He has made Burnley owners and directors look at the finance of it and they are actually making money which is a bit unusual for a long time.
"Within that money he has brought in by getting promoted they have evolved at a steady pace, patient, and if you look in the football dictionary you won't find the word patience because there isn't one, but there is at Burnley."
Source: PA
