Don returned to the starting line up on Saturday against Watford and was arguably man of the match with his performance on the right.
And he believes a quick return to the top flight will help him play on longer.
"In my personal opinion it is easier in the Premier League than it is in the first," he says.
"Against your Man Uniteds and Liverpools it is all about quality and not running about the place like the other teams have got to do to you here."
Don, who is 32, intends to keep going for a long while yet and adds:
"I have always prepared right for a game; if you don't, you have got no chance.
"I look at people like McCall at Sheffield United who is playing at 39, Gary McAllister, who was a big influence on me when he was playing for Scotland, who was playing until he was 37 - so I have got another five years, especially if I get into the Premier League."
Don reckons it will suit the club as a whole to return to the Premiership and adds:
"The biggest game for me this season, the one I enjoyed the most and where I played well, was against Tottenham in the cup.
"We battered them on the night; Spurs beat us 1-0 but we put a great performance on, and it shows that when we have the big teams we can do well against them.
"The problem is against the smaller sides who raise their game and make it hard for us."
So why has it taken so long to hit top form?
"If anyone could answer that we would have done it six months ago," says Don.
"I just think there were a lot of new people coming in, we lost a lot of players - and the manager - and fans obviously weren't happy.
"Players were trying to get on with it, and obviously when teams such as Stoke come to Upton Park it is like a cup final for them - a big occasion which makes them raise their game.
"34,000 turned out on Saturday and yet they have seen a lot of their star players leave.
"It has been a frustrating season, very tough for the lads, but we were grinding it out halfway through the season and now we are playing good football.
"The gaffer has made some good signings and there is the right mix of youth and experience."
West Ham would have to lose 4-0 to Wigan and other results go the wrong way to miss out on a playoff spot, and Don adds:
"The boys have looked at it and we would have to get heavily beaten, which is not going to happen - the momentum is with us so we are going to go and try and win anyway."
He has no preference about who West Ham take on and he adds:
"It is so tight - if there was a bad side in amongst the four you would obviously want to play them, but four good sides are going to be there and you have to be the best if you want to go up anyway.
"I got there with Sheffield United, we beat Ipswich in the semis, and then lost to Crystal Palace in the final.
"They are very nervy games, especially the first one which is never easy - and never a good game because you don't want to lose.
"We drew 1-1 at Bramall Lane and that was considered to be a bad result because they had an away goal but luckily we went on to win 4-2.
"It is an unusual experience compared to what we have had to go through this season; teams have come to Upton Park and put 10 men behind the ball and it has been hard to break them down.
"But in the playoffs teams have got to come and score, so that should benefit us.
"Everyone will be having a good go because it is such a huge prize and I don't think many of our boys have played at the Millennium stadium - we want to get there and give the fans something to cheer about.
"Everyone says that the team that comes up is the one that hits form - us and Crystal Palace are the form sides."
Confidence is high, and Don adds:
"The boss said after the game that we have had four clean sheets in five and we have a good keeper in Steve Bywater.
"The lads are playing well and there is competition for places; David Connolly was suspended on Saturday so it will be a tough decision for the boss."
Don has already declared here that he is not going to have a summer holiday, such is his determination to start next season well after a stop-start campaign, and he adds:
"I had a couple of little injuries, then I played in the reserves and got a little cartilage problem that needed a trim which left me out for six weeks - but it has been a good time to get back in the side.
"The boss said it is great for me to come back in and do well; I needed to perform because David will be back next week so this puts a little bit of pressure on, and we will see what happens.
As for the game itself on Saturday, Don says:
"I really enjoyed it; it was nice to get a goal but more importantly the lads did well and 4-0 was a good result.
"I know I got one goal but I am sure it was two because I got a flick-on for the header - Christian is desperate for it but as long as we win that is the main thing."
Ah, yes - the disputed second goal where Matthew Etherington's corner was headed home by Christian Dailly - with a flick from Don himself.
Don wheeled away towards the Chicken Run and celebrated with some of the players, while Christian did the same near the Dr. Martens stand.
There was no video replay to illuminate the fans - or the two players - but the referee has given it to Don.
"Has he? Nice one - I'll send him something!" is the response.
"The gaffer told me to stay in front of the keeper and try and get a knock down; it was definitely going in from Christian anyway but I just tried to get something on it."
So, if he did score two, why didn't he take the penalty for the hat trick?
Marlon Harewood had already had his spot kick and follow-up saved before the referee spotted an encroachment so Don could have covered himself in glory and grabbed the second chance.
"To be honest I was miles away," he smiles, "and Marlon wouldn't let me take it anyway - he is desperate for this golden boot and he was on everything - corners, free kicks, the lot!
"So there would have been a punch-up if I had been on the end of that.
"The boss tried to say 'let someone else take it' - I just think it was a goal that we really needed as it was the third, and we needed to kill the game off.
"Once you miss a penalty I always think it is a good idea if someone else takes it, but credit to Marlon - he was brave enough to take it again and he finished it off."
Don is hoping to end the season with a flourish and says he enjoys working with Alan Pardew.
"I have got on well with him all along," he insists.
"The most important thing for a footballer is to play and when you don't you are disappointed but I don't think the gaffer would have that any other way."
As for the trip to Wigan, he concludes:
"We need to win; hopefully there are three games to go so we will see where we go."