Simon Whitlock has vowed to come out all guns blazing as he battles for Premier League Darts survival on Judgement Night in Brighton.
The 44-year-old Australian is one of four players in danger of relegation at The Brighton Centre on Thursday evening.
Two players will face the drop and Whitlock, who lies third from bottom, faces Michael van Gerwen in the final match on stage.
Victory will guarantee he continues for the remaining five weeks of the league stage before the end-of-season play-offs in May, while defeats for both Gary Anderson and Wes Newton – against James Wade and Andy Hamilton respectively – would also be enough for the reigning European Champion to stay in the tournament.
And Whitlock is prepared for a tense evening in what is the first time that relegation has been factored into the annual event.
“There’s going to be a lot of pressure around Thursday and a lot of permutations,” said the world number five.
“The most pleasing thing for me is that it’s in my own hands. If I win, I know I will be playing the next five weeks.
“It’s going to be a really tough game because Michael’s playing brilliantly, but I know I’m capable of getting the win if I play as I can.”
Last week’s 7-1 defeat at the hands of an inspired Robert Thornton in Glasgow left Whitlock in a precarious position ahead of a vital night in Brighton.
But he is leaving no stone unturned to prepare for his biggest game of the year so far, withdrawing from last weekend’s European Trophy to focus on his meeting with van Gerwen.
“I’m putting everything in to being 100 per cent ready for Thursday night,” he added.
“It’s a huge game and I know if I get the right result, I will not only survive but also give myself a real chance of pushing for a place in the top four and the play-offs.
“It’s an amazing atmosphere in the Premier League and I don’t want to miss out on the rest of the season.
“It’s a massive night for me and hopefully I can produce my best performance when it matters most.”
Story courtesy of Leyland Paints
Image courtesy of Lawrence Lustig/PDC
Simon Whitlock will appearing at the Belfast Masters on Friday alongside Michael van Gerwen, Raymond van Barneveld and Brendan Dolan. Remaining tickets will be available at the venue on Friday April 5.
