Cammy Palmer says Linfield need to beat teams like Glentoran if they are to retain the Gibson Cup.
The Blues have been playing catch up after a stuttering start to their title defence.
They have pulled themselves back into contention again thanks to an unbeaten run which stretches back to the start of November.
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In the middle of that run David Healy's men dumped the Glens out of the League Cup at the semi-final stage with Palmer netting the last goal in a 3-0 win at The Oval.
The midfielder knows it will be a different game when they return to east Belfast on Boxing Day, but he is hoping for a similar outcome.
"Obviously in the cup game we were excellent, but we know Boxing day will be a different game," said Palmer.
"There's a bit more at stake, it's a bigger game in front of a bigger crowd.
"But the guys have been here before and know what it's like, we have a lot of confidence in each other, and the gaffer has a lot of confidence in us to go and perform.
"If we can perform in the way we can I've no worries in us going and winning again.
"If we're going to win the league then these are the games we need to win.
"At the start of the season we lost to the teams around us and that's the reason we are playing catch up."
The Boxing Day derby is a special fixture in the calendar for fans of the two teams and the scale of occasion is not lost on Palmer.
"I remember the first few times I played against Glentoran I was coming off the bench and was just desperate to play," he said.
"The Boxing Day game at Windsor last year was amazing, it was one of the best atmospheres I've been a part of.
"Unfortunately we didn't get the three points that day, but as a young kid you want to be playing in the big games.
"That's the reason why people sign for Linfield and Glentoran.
"We're all looking forward to it and it has been on everyone's minds for a while now.
"We're going to embrace it like we always do and hopefully kick on again."
Palmer is back enjoying his football again after a tough campaign last season when he tore his meniscus and missed a large part of the season.
"It's taken me a wee while to get back on my feet and play the way I can again, but I always have confidence in myself," he said.
"It's great to perform well, but as long as we're all performing and the team is winning games that's all that matters."
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