James Brown is targeting a maximum haul of points this week to hoist St Johnstone up the Premiership standings.
The Perth club travels to 11th-placed Dundee this evening before welcoming current basement boys Ross County on Saturday.
Saints sit ninth in the standings among a tightly-packed bottom half of the table and have sights set on pulling away from any trouble.
Trips to Dens Park have proved productive in recent times and in September a 2-0 League Cup quarter-final victory was welcomed.
After a disappointing weekend league defeat to Hibs, defender Brown is looking for the performance level to reach greater heights.
“The league table doesn’t lie after 14 games,” he said. “We haven’t been at the levels we need to be.
“We know as a group that we have gone away from playing the football that we can.
“We need to get back to playing how we did last season when we got into Europe and the two cup wins. That’s what we’re working towards.
“We want to be in the top six and competing for Europe. We believe when we do our stuff, that is where we belong.
“We haven’t hit the heights this season but the Dundee and Ross County games give us a chance to pick up a bit of momentum.
“Obviously it’s going to be tough because they are fighting for their lives down there. But we have previously gone to Dundee and done well. We’ll try to get that result to kick-start the season.
“As a club we have a big week against teams around us. Hopefully we can take maximum points.”
Saints have not been helped by injuries and there was a blow this week with confirmation that David Wotherspoon is out long-term.
Glenn Middleton could make a shock return at Dens Park tonight, while Chris Kane returns from suspension.
New arrival Viv Solomon-Otabor, who can play anywhere across the frontline, has impressed Brown since arriving.
“You can see Viv is lively and he has settled in well,” he said. “We’re a bit light up top but hopefully he gives us something moving forward.
“He looks like a good footballer and he can be a big player for us up until the break.”
