Pompey have spent the past few weeks slowly chipping away at the points difference between them and the promotion places.
Saturday’s narrow – but deserved – victory over high-flying Ipswich means they sit just two behind the play-off spots.
And the gap to second position now stands at just five points, with more than half the campaign still to play.
Pompey have lost just one of their past nine league fixtures and Kenny Jackett wants to ensure that form continues.
The Blues boss said: “We’ve had a good run in the last couple of months and the team have generally looked a lot more cohesive.
“It’s important now that we keep stepping in the right direction – you have to continually look to improve.
“We’ve got a great home game against Wycombe – one of the top sides in the division – and then two tough away matches.
"We always try to look forward and will be aiming to get that form required to really see us move up that table."
“The target is to collect as many points as possible from the nine available before we go into a couple of cup ties.
“It looks to be a really open division and there are perhaps as many as 13 teams with their eyes on those play-off places – and we’re one of them.
“We always try to look forward and will be aiming to get that form required to really see us move up that table.”
Pompey’s unbeaten League One record at Fratton Park will be put to the test by table-topping Wycombe on Boxing Day.
Jackett said: “They’re another side above us in the table that we’re hoping – and will be trying – to claw back.
“We’re expecting a different type of game, but Wycombe have had a great season and Gareth Ainsworth has put together a great squad.
“They’re tight at the back and have good options right the way through, so it’s going to be a real test for us.
“But we want to try to back up the performance on Saturday, when our crowd got behind us and created a terrific atmosphere.
“We have to produce a display that helps generate the same thing on Boxing Day and get them firmly on our side.”