Nigel de Jong said Manchester City should not just settle for Champions League qualification while they can still catch third-placed Arsenal.
Roberto Mancini's side took a huge step towards securing a first appearance in Europe's elite club competition since their debut in the then European Cup in the 1968/69 season with a victory over Blackburn on Monday.
That win puts them four points ahead of fifth-placed Tottenham with Spurs still to go to Eastlands next month. City are also seeking to end a 35-year wait for a major trophy in the FA Cup final against Stoke City but De Jong insists more can still be achieved.
"We are in the top four and that is where we want to stay, and the way to do that is to not think about the future only the next match,' the midfielder told the club's website.
"If we keep our focus then of course we can challenge for third place but all we can do is keep winning and see what happens."
Matthew Etherington, the Stoke winger, faces a race against time to be fit for the final against City at Wembley Stadium on May 14, Tony Pulis, his manager, said.
Etherington, 29, damaged a hamstring in the first half of Stoke's 3-0 win over Wolverhampton on Tuesday.
