Phil Jagielka says Everton are determined to keep hold of fourth spot in the Premier League - and the Toffees defender is sure they can do it.Everton face Portsmouth at Goodison Park on Sunday knowing they can virtually knock their opponents out of the race for a Champions League spot.
Victory for David Moyes' fourth-placed side will see them go nine points clear of Pompey with both sides having 10 games left to play.
And Moyes, who celebrates six years in charge of the Toffees early next month, has already seen his side show the strength of character to maintain a UEFA Cup campaign and a race for Champions League qualification.
Unbeaten in seven league games this year, Everton seem to be getting better as the pressure mounts.
Jagielka has spoken of the determination at Goodison, saying: "We know it is important to keep hold of fourth place now we have got it. If we end up there at the end of the season then it will have been a massive campaign for us.
"So we must realise that the points are really important at this stage in the season. We are looking forward to our next game now and hopefully pick up some points there.
"Every point from now until the end is going to matter. There are six pointers every week with the amount of teams that are looking to finish in the Champions League.
"But if we put together performances consistently like the win at Manchester City on Monday then we should be able to do it."
Everton now face seven games in March, including both legs of their UEFA Cup last 16 clash with Fiorentina, the first of those in Florence next Thursday with the return the following week.
After Pompey, Everton face Sunderland - when Lee Carsley will be banned - Fulham and West Ham in the league, with the final game of the month the critical Merseyside derby at Liverpool on March 30.
It is a testing time, and the programme will only get harder in April with the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Aston Villa to face along with a potential UEFA Cup quarter-final.
But for now it is the league first for Moyes, whose team have taken 17 of their last 21 points available, while applying to enter the Intertoto Cup this summer as an insurance policy.
But Everton could be boosted on Sunday by the return of Mikel Arteta, who has missed two of the last three matches with a stomach muscle injury.
This week the 25 year-old travelled home to Spain for the second time in a fortnight to receive treatment. While he is still considered doubtful, Moyes is hoping for an improvement before Sunday.
He said: "Mikel has been going to Spain get some treatment. He might need a bit more time but I am hoping he will be back on Sunday."
Moyes watched first-team hopefuls Leighton Baines, James Vaughan and Victor Anichebe in the reserves' 4-2 defeat at Manchester City on Tuesday, and all three could find themselves utilised soon as resources are stretched.
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