Tuesday 19 May 2015 13:32, UK
Michael van Gerwen has warned Adrian Lewis that he will not let his sky-high standards slip in this week's Premier League clash.
The Dutchman has already secured his spot in the season-ending play-offs and leads the table by three points ahead of Thursday night’s week 14 matches in Newcastle, live on Sky Sports.
Lewis has endured contrasting fortunes and the sixth-placed Stoke man needs a win to keep alive his faint hopes of qualification at the Metro Radio Arena.
But he faces a daunting task against "Mighty Mike", who averaged 112 in last week’s 7-4 win over Phil Taylor, and is hoping to top the standings for a third successive season.
I know that I'm through to the semi-finals, but you want to win all the time and I have to take it game by game.
"Two years ago I won the league with 22 points and last year with 24 points, and it would be amazing to be top again for the third time," van Gerwen told the PDC. "I'm already on 22 points and that shows how the standard has been raised.
"I know I'm playing well, but I can't afford any mistakes, also for my own confidence. I know that I'm through to the semi-finals, but you want to win all the time and I have to take it game by game.
"Averages are important, but not as important as getting the results and I've got to make sure that I prepare properly and produce the darts at the right moments to get the two points."
Fellow Dutchman Raymond van Barneveld has propelled himself into the top four after winning his last five matches and he is determined to continue his dramatic revival with a win over James Wade.
"I'm not in the semi-finals yet and I've got to focus on playing James this week," Van Barneveld said. "There are no easy matches and I'm still playing finals every week.
"Anything can still go wrong if I don't show up, but the form is there, the belief is there and I feel comfortable.
"Before Judgement Night I was thinking about not getting eliminated and after four more weeks I'm third - it's been an amazing time and I'm so happy."
Watch Thursday's Premier League matches on Sky Sports 1 from 7pm.
