Walter Mazzarri believes a victory over Novara on Saturday night would be crucial to help restore Napoli's shattered morale.
Three defeats in a row and no wins in their last five have seen the previously high flying southerners drop to sixth and they face an uphill battle to qualify for the Champions League next season.
They trail third-placed Lazio by six points with just six games to go.
And if they are to dream of sharing the top table in Europe in the next term, Mazzarri knows they need to get their confidence back.
"It's the first time we've lost three games in a row and that makes tomorrow's game especially important," said Mazzarri.
"If we beat Novara we could begin to set our sights on new horizons because a victory would restore our morale for the final part of the season.
"We need a positive episode to unblock ourselves and all that matters tomorrow is the result.
"We have to give our all."
Mazzarri will have to do without a pair of important forwards for the clash against the relegation near-certainties.
Ezequiel Lavezzi and Goran Pandev are both out with injuries but Mazzarri says that won't convince him to give Chilean January transfer-window signing Eduardo Vargas a first league start.
"We're missing two players in the same role but Lavezzi and Pandev both have tired muscles," said the coach.
"What's more they're fundamental elements, particularly Goran who was in great form.
"Vargas is getting used to the place, I don't want to risk him and if I played him from the beginning, we wouldn't know what to expect.
"He's shown his potential but hasn't expressed it to it's maximum."
Source: AFP
