London: Second in the Premier League, Wigan Athletic should make the most of their game against Portsmouth on Saturday.
For English soccer's big guns are waiting to knock Paul Jewell's promoted high-fliers off their perch in five games before Christmas.
Wigan's top-flight credentials will be put to the acid test in a run from November 19 that pit the club against Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United.
"Do we want intense competition? Of course we do. We are not here just to make up the numbers," Jewell said.
"People think that Wigan are a breath of fresh air and play without fear but we are well organised," the 41-year-old said ahead of his team's trip to the south coast.
"If you want see dossiers, I've got dossiers on everyone. It doesn't happen by luck," said Jewell who took charge at Wigan in 2001 and steered them to promotion from division three two years later.
Wigan, a famous rugby league town, were promoted to the top flight for the first time in their history after finishing second in division two last season.
They have done better than division two champions Sunderland, bottom of the Premier League, and playoff winners West Ham United (ninth), two teams steeped in top-flight history and experience.
Nine points behind champions and runaway leaders Chelsea, Wigan are two points ahead of third-placed Spurs, Manchester City and Bolton Wanderers.
Jewell's side made their August debut against champions Chelsea, conceding a 1-0 defeat three minutes into injury time, and Wigan will scrap for every point against the big boys.
"We have only got one objective this year and that's to stay in the league. The quicker we can get the points on the board the better," he said.
Wigan were seriously depleted when they beat Fulham 1-0 at home last weekend, their fifth league win in a row, to leap to second.
"It was only our endeavour and spirit, our will to win and our organisation that got us through the game," Jewell said.
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