Chris Shields says every game between now and the end of the season is a cup final for Linfield.
The Blues know with a seven-point gap to make up on league leaders Larne they cannot afford to drop many more points if they are to make it five league titles in a row.
Shields netted from the spot in Saturday's vital 2-0 win over Coleraine, and the midfielder is relishing the title run-in.
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"They really are all cup finals now, and that's the way you want it to be at this stage of the season," he said.
"You want the games to mean something and everyone within our squad knows that.
"It will depend on ourselves if it goes all the way this season again.
"We've two games against Larne so it will be down to us if it goes the distance again, that's our plan anyway."
Shields fired in from the spot after Dean Jarvis was adjudged to have handled in the box.
Eetu Vertainen added the second five minutes after half-time to seal what Shields felt was a deserved win.
"I felt we were the better team without being overly brilliant," he said.
"At this stage it's a results business more than the performance.
"The goals came at a good time. I thought we were on top at that stage, we had to capitalise and we did.
"It was the correct call by the linesman, it was a handball and a penalty, and I was happy to put it away.
"You don't want the game to linger on at 1-0 so getting the second early on after half time was crucial for us and we controlled the game for the rest of it.
"We felt it was about game management and getting the three points today, and we've plenty of boys in the squad who know how to do that."
The top three all picked up wins on Saturday to open up a gap on the teams below and Shields already has his sights set on next Tuesday night's mouthwatering trip to Larne.
"There's a bit of breathing space and it also means Glentoran can't overtake us now if they win their games in hand," he said.
"The split is obviously going to be crucial to define who wins it just about taking every game as it comes.
"The next one is probably the biggest one of the season, you relish those games so we're looking forward to it."
The Blues have picked up six points and kept two clean sheets after their recent Big Two disappointment, and Shields said that was the only way to respond.
"Everyone was hurting after that Tuesday night," he said. "We've bounced back in the right manner."
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