Ben Pearson feels the next month could be an important one for PNE with games against some of the favourites for the division.
North End face last season's relegated sides Aston Villa, Norwich City and Newcastle United in October, and Pearson is relishing the challenge.
"This can make or break the season to some extent. I think the international break will come at a good time because we have had a lot of games and it gives players a chance to recharge going into the next five or six games.
"We start with a massive game on Saturday, Villa and Newcastle are the two you look at at the start of the season who you are looking to play against.
"They've not started great, I have watched a few of their games so we know they are beatable but we will have to be at our best."
The 21-year-old feels that the current squad performs better against the top sides and hopes that is the case once again on Saturday.
"This team, with the spirit that we've got, we seem to do better against the teams in the higher positions in the table.
"Last year against Derby away we put in a real strong performance and got a draw out of it, Sheffield Wednesday at home we played well and won that game.
"Against the bigger teams you do get that added adrenaline, everyone wants to perform and test themselves so hopefully that happens again on Saturday and we can pick up the points."
Should Pearson start against Villa at the weekend, it will be his third start in four games, and after not being involved much prior to that this season, it is something that the former Manchester United youngster is enjoying.
"It's been a bit of a weird season so far for me, I'm not used to not being involved so that was a new experience for me but watching on has made me learn about the game a bit more and made me understand what I needed to do when I got back in.
"I think the Bournemouth game helped me a lot, I had been training well for the week before that so I was mentally prepared for that game and took that over to Friday as a sub and then started again against Birmingham.
"I'm enjoying it. All of my career I've been a bit deeper but with Welshy there it allows me to use my pace and energy to get forward and create and hopefully score some chances. I should have had a couple in the last few games but I'm sure that will come."
You can hear more from Ben on PNE PlayerHD now by clicking on the video below.