Wes Newton plays twice, there's a World Championship Final rematch and Phil Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld go head to head. Rod Harrington previews a big night of darts in Dublin...
Michael van Gerwen v Peter Wright
There's a bit of needle between these two players. Last week, Peter Wright said 'Michael who?' and suggested everyone was talking about Van Gerwen too much. I like to see that because this is professional sport with testosterone flying around; there's a bit too much lovey-dovey in darts at times!
Wright has not made any mistakes in the Premier League this year. He scores well, he sets his shots up well and he doesn't miss doubles. However, he's up against Van Gerwen who is on a run and not many people can stop him at the moment.
Every now and again, Michael has two or three legs where he goes off the boil. We see the same thing with the other raw talents like Lewis, Anderson and Chisnall - and it makes you wonder how it happens. How can you throw three 12-dart legs and then suddenly throw a 25-darter?
If Van Gerwen is to lose this match it will be because of that happening in the early part of the game. I can't see it that though and while this will be close, I suspect MVG will nick it.
Phil Taylor v Raymond van Barneveld
These two players have drummed up some real classics in the past, but of late Barney has been battered by Phil Taylor regularly and I don't think he has the mental strength to beat him. He will have been looking at Taylor playing poorly all year - and then think that as soon as their match comes along he has found his throw and his grip.
In the early weeks of the season, Taylor was losing his grip on release. He has had the back of the dart roughed up where he holds it between thumb and forefinger and can grip it better now. That gives him more power to push the dart and they go in straighter, rather than flipping to the left.
He played unbelievably well in the Tour events at the weekend, reaching one final and winning the other. That proves that he not only has the mental strength back, but the physical strength. Everybody, including myself, felt he lost too much weight too quickly, but even though he's one of the oldest men in the field he kept his performance going for two full days.
He is bloody minded, he wants to prove people wrong and that sets things up perfectly for Thursday. If Barney is to win he needs to get ahead early and get a bit of confidence going - but if Taylor wins the first two legs it could be a battering like it has been so many times in the past. The first three legs of the match will tell us a lot.
