Nigel Reo-Coker has insisted he does not see Ipswich becoming embroiled in a relegation dogfight this season.
Town go into the away clash with Hull just one point better off than bottom club Peterborough and the former England U21 skipper suffered the drop from the Premier League with Bolton as recently as May.
Reo-Coker, 28, said: "I wouldn’t class this as a relegation battle. We’re not past January yet and it’s still so very early in the league.
"The experience I have gained in this league is priceless. I know what it takes to get out of situations like this and you need a positive frame of mind.
"I’ve only been here since Monday, I’ve enjoyed training thoroughly and the spirits are very high. Quite a few new players have come in and we all know why we’re here — to win games. That is the bottom line.”
But Reo-Coker knows that if Town are still struggling come the turn of the year it could easily develop into a desperate battle for survival.
He added: "If you’re still near the bottom it can be difficult to get out of it, but it’s about what you are looking to achieve and the principles you have at the football club.
"Right now, I know what the manager wants to do and it’s about having that winning mentality. We’re not taking any game lightly. Every game is an important game and one that you must have the confidence that you can go and win.
"That’s the approach you must have in this league — you must believe you can win every game and you must go into them all believing you can win.”