As Latics prepare for tomorrow's Coca-Cola League One match at bottom-club Stockport County, Dave Penney insists there is still considerable work to do to banish the threat of relegation.
The Latics manager was replying to the suggestion that the current bottom four - Stockport, Wycombe, Exeter and Southend - will be the four teams who will be demoted.
Latics are two places and four points clear of the drop zone with Penney maintaining his team still has a battle for survival on its hands.
Penney said: "I still think there are a lot more teams still involved in the relegation battle.
"They are probably five or six teams above the line, including ourselves, who could still get sucked into it.
"It is important we keep picking up points and make sure we keep clear of the bottom four."
The Latics manager will also be warning his side to guard against complacency against Stockport who remain in administration and in turmoil off the field.
Penney maintains that the Hatters will be a far stronger side than their league position suggests following the capture of eight new players since January.
They have recruited Jabo Ibehre, Jemal Johnson, Danny Swailes and Ritchie Partridge from Milton Keynes Dons as well as Paul Huntington (ex Leeds), David Perkins (Colchester), Matt Sadler (Watford) and George Donnelly (Plymouth).
Penney said: "Stockport have brought in a lot of new players since we were due to play them in January to add to the quality ones they already have.
"I think their league position, therefore, is a little false as it is effectively a brand-new team which has been assembled since January.
"They have had some good results, including beating Wycombe 4-3, so it won't be easy."
Penney added that Stockport were "resilient" at Boundary Park on the opening day of the season when they were involved in a goalless draw at Boundary Park.
The Latics manager is not too disappointed by the recent three-match unbeaten run which has yielded them five points.
He said: "It was a good point at Exeter following Dean Brill's last minute penalty save which we followed by a good home win against Leyton Orient and we battled back to win at point against Wycombe through a late penalty
"I don't count it as being two points lost against Wycombe when we were behind with two or three minutes left, though we are disappointed we did not win the match having been 1-0 ahead.
"The good thing is that we stuck at it against Wycombe, and it was all credit to the players that we managed to take something from the game."
Penney is not fazed by the prospect of playing on Stockport's troublesome Edgeley Park pitch saying the one at Colchester was an equally poor playing surface but they got the ball down and produced one of their better performances of the season.
He said: "I think the pitch will probably be in a better condition than when we were due to play there earlier as the weather has been a lot drier and kinder.
"It is all about our mental attitude. Everyone was saying how poor the pitch was at Colchester, but we got the ball down and passed it, and we will try to do the same tomorrow."
