The 28-year-old defender, who joined Villa from Feyenoord last summer, has his sights set on a place in the Holland squad at next year's World Cup.
"That's my goal, to go to the World Cup, every time I'm in the squad, but I just want to stay up with Villa. That's the most important thing for now and, if we play in the Premier League, that's good enough," he said.
Whether Villa stay up or go down, they are likely to face a fight to keep hold of striker Christian Benteke. The 22-year-old has been a huge success in a difficult season for Villa, scoring 19 goals in his first campaign in England following a summer move from Genk.
Defender Vlaar is happy he does not have to face the big Belgian too often in training, saying: "He's unbelievably strong. Fortunately when we play 11 versus 11 he's always on my team because most of the time we are getting ready for the next game.
"He's only 22. I don't think there are young players who have done more than him this season. He has been very important and he will be important again in these last couple of games for us."
Villa have four games left to save themselves, starting against Sunderland, where three points would draw Lambert's side level with the Black Cats and Newcastle and put five points between them and 18th-placed Wigan.
It is the first time Vlaar has been involved in a relegation battle and, although the season has not gone as planned, the Dutchman is confident of a good finish.
He took encouragement from the second-half performance against Manchester United last Monday, when Villa held their own after conceding three early goals, while they have beaten Stoke, QPR and Reading in recent weeks.
Vlaar said: "I know last year wasn't easy and it hasn't been this year. Of course I hoped it would be better but we are in the situation we are in and we have to make sure we get out of it."
Source: PA
Source: PA