PHIL Parkinson is urging his players to make the most of their chance to put daylight between themselves and the relegation battle.

Tonight his Wanderers team take on promotion-chasing Cardiff City, and while the manager expects a tough assignment in Wales, he sees using their game in hand as a golden opportunity to edge away from danger.

Following impressive showings in their win against Bristol City and Saturday’s draw at home to Fulham, the Whites are in a relatively healthy 19th spot.

While a second victory over the Bluebirds in the space of a couple of months would only lift them one place, it would establish a five-point gap to third-bottom Barnsley.

“It’s another opportunity, with no one else around us playing, to send another message to the teams in and around us,” said Parkinson. “We’ve just got to concentrate on the manner of the performance levels being maintained to give ourselves the best chance of doing that.

“I haven’t counted the teams above us who I think are still not safe but there are a few above us who may have been feeling they’re safe around the Christmas period but now are not, and that’s credit to ourselves and some other teams.

“Birmingham have picked up some good results of late and Hull have got their first win for a while.

“So there are other teams in and around it and that can only be good for us.

“If we keep playing like we have done over a sustained period of time we’ll give ourselves a good chance of getting away from trouble.”

Tonight also sees Bolton come face-to-face with Cardiff’s deadline-day capture from the Macron, Gary Madine.

And, mindful of the striker’s capabilities, Parkinson is at least pleased to be facing the devil he knows.

“Gaz has done what Gaz does, he’s a good hold-up player and he’ll be a good signing for Cardiff going forward,” he added.

“I’ve seen both their games since he’s been there, he did well at Leeds and they got a point down at Millwall on Friday so he can be relatively pleased with that.

“We know what he’s all about and there’ll be no secrets there.”