FOR Andrew Wright, tonight's relegation six-pointer with Sheffield United is Scunthorpe United's biggest game of the season.

But only because it's the next one.

Reluctant to see too much hype piled on the match with the side directly above them in the league table, the Iron have to take their survival battle one step at a time.

The fact though, that a victory against the struggling Blades would move them to their highest league position in 2011 means the next step could be a massive one, psychologically if nothing else.

"Right now it's a massive game," accepted Wright.

"I don't like to use cliches, but obviously the biggest game we've got left is always the next one.

"There's a lot more emphasis placed on this game right now because we're both right down there.

"If we can beat Sheffield United, it's a boost for us mentally. We'll go above them and their heads are going to drop, plus it will give us more confidence, especially on the back of the last couple of results.

"We don't want to place too much emphasis on it, because if we get beat, we're not relegated, just the same as if we win, we're not safe.

"It's the team above Sheffield United, in fourth bottom, we have to look to catch really, but we need to move up the table one rung at a time and if we beat Sheffield United, we move up one more spot.

"If we do hit form right now, with the games coming Saturday-Tuesday, Saturday-Tuesday, it's a great time to be picking up points."

Fifty points is the usual target for teams looking to secure safety in the Football League, but the competitive nature of this season's Championship means that may not necessarily be the case in 2011.

Having moved up to 28 points on the back of victory against Nottingham Forest and Saturday's goal-less draw with Derby County, the Iron are still looking at seven more wins and at least one draw to reach the half century mark, with 16 matches remaining.

Privately, things may be different, but talk of points totals and targets is not yet a topic for discussion on United's Grove Wharf training ground.

"I've not heard many of the lads talking about targets," Wright said.

"I think Joe Murphy might have mentioned what he thinks is going to be right for us, but some people say one thing and some people say another.

"It's another cliche, but we really have got to take it one game at a time.

"Three points tonight doesn't put us in a good position, but it puts us in a better position."

Inspired by the form of their January transfer recruits, United have breathed new life into the relegation battle on the back of four points out of six in what always had the potential to be a season-defining six-day spell.

And given that Scunthorpe follow up tonight's clash with the Blades by travelling to Bristol City and Portsmouth – two more sides who have found the going tough this term – all is still very much to play for.

Wright believes improved performances have brought the 'buzz' back to Glanford Park during the last week and is keen for that to continue.

"Going into the Forest game, I'm sure some of the other clubs down there were looking at that fixture and saying, 'Scunthorpe will lose that one'," he continued.

"Winning it though has definitely made people sit up and take notice.

"Coming into those three games some people were saying we needed six points out of nine, some people were saying seven.

"I don't think the gaffer himself set a specific target, but obviously we want to get as many points as possible and we've certainly given ourselves a good start by getting four out of six.

"If we can make it seven then it's been a good week.

"You can feel the atmosphere sometimes is a little bit different and I think in the past couple of games there has definitely been a bit more of a buzz about the stadium, which has definitely helped the players.

"We want to be as close as possible to the side that's fourth bottom and we have to keep picking up points to do that.

"We aren't thinking about Sheffield United and the pressure that's on them tonight. For us personally, the pressure is on us."

Eddie Nolan trained yesterday after being forced to miss the Derby match with a calf problem, though with boss Ian Baraclough putting the Irishman's injury down to 'fatigue', Wright is likely to keep his place tonight.

Facing the Blades would provide the one-time Liverpool youngster with his 10th league start of the season in the midst of what he believes has been the best form of his three years with the club.

He has put in some determined defensive displays since returning from a loan spell at Grimsby during October and November.

And though it was a big decision for Wright to drop out of the Football League, it is a decision which he accepts has revitalised his Iron career.

"I've had a couple of games where I've maybe been a little bit off, but everybody has those," he added

"I felt a little bit unlucky to be left out for the Cardiff game, but there's a lot of competition for places, which is healthy for the squad and the manager.

"He makes a decision and will have a chat with me. I've got to respect what he does, even though I'm obviously disappointed because I don't want to be sat on the bench.

"Going to Grimsby really helped.

"I was playing reserve team football here and while I'm not sure what the difference in level is, it's just the fact that you're playing week in, week out for points, something that really means something."