Caretaker manager Pete Wild is challenging his players to provide a shock Emirates FA Cup upset when Latics travel to Premier League side Fulham on Sunday.
Wild believes that the side will be full of confidence going into the game and that the gap between the two sides in the division will be irrelevant.
“Of course, we can get the upset, why would we bother going if we didn't think we could win the game.” He said.
“It's 11v11 at the end of the day and we've got a great history of cup upsets.
“We've got to go down there with the mindset that we're going to cause an upset and if we can do then it'll be fantastic.”
Fulham currently sit in 19th place in the Premier League after their struggles so far this season.
Claudio Ranieri has picked up nine points since he took over back in November and Wild thinks that Latics may have to show their Premier League opponents a little more respect come matchday.
“I think we'll have to be a little more conservative and a little bit more respectful.” He commented.
“It'll be a case of staying in the game as long as possible, but then try and hit them when we do all the hard work.”
It is no secret that Wild wasn’t supposed to be on the touchline for this game, buying his own ticket and train ticket for travel down on Sunday.
However, in the past eight days things have changed quite quickly and he even joked that it’s his friend is the one to lose out on the train ticket at the minute.
“I'd never been to Craven Cottage, so the lads have asked if I wanted to go and with no academy games on Sunday, I was up for it.
“It was a great opportunity to go down and the support the team and now how things have dramatically changed in the last eight days.
“They haven't sorted my refund out yet, but days like this I'm sure I can stand it.
“To be fair I haven't paid my mate for it yet, so it's his loss at the moment!”
It has become the side story of this cup tie, but Wild is happy for it to be a distraction to take attention away from the players.
He is also hoping that everyone associated with Oldham Athletic enjoys the day out come Sunday.
“It seems like I've become the side story of all this which doesn't bother me because it takes the pressure off the players.
“I'm really pleased to be extending my caretaker manager's role which takes us into Sunday.
“It's a Premier League ground, so it'll be a great occasion, not just for me but for everyone.
“None of it is about me, it's about the players, the fans enjoying the day and everybody just giving the best account of themselves.”
Much has been rumoured about the vacant manager spot with Wild being tipped as a potential person to step into the role full-time.
However, he believes he needs more time to develop himself as an academy manager before he can make the next step in football.
“I've only been an interim academy manager since the back end of August, so I feel I need to get better at that job before I step up into this.
“I keep using the phrase, you need to be overcooked instead of under-cooked because you only get one chance at the next level and you've got to be ready for it.”
Despite him not feeling ready the job he believes it has been an insight into the next level and a great learning experience.
“It's been a steep learning curve, but an enjoyable one.
“The results have gone our way, but it doesn't come without the preparation, the challenges and making sure we've got the players available.
“It's come from a lot of research from the staff and myself, so it's been really good to see what it's like at the next level putting your coaching into practice.”