This is the first time Peter Wright has played twice in one night and he needs to go hammer and tongs in this game, so there's less pressure on the second match. He doesn't make many mistakes and, as he proved against Michael van Gerwen the other week, he has plenty of bottle. As I wrote in my William Hill blog, a guy Tweeted me this week asking if he's ultra-confident or mad for changing his darts all the time. To be honest, it's a bit of both - but that's a perfect combination - you need the extrovert to do the exceptional.

 

Gary Anderson has a newborn baby and perhaps will come into this game with his eye off the ball, but you never know with him. They played each other in Cardiff last week and Gary missed three clear darts at a double to go 6-5 up and those mistakes could be the difference. I think it will be a long game that goes all the way, but I think Wright will nick it.

 

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From now until the end of the season some players have two matches per evening - and that's where the crunch is going to be. A lot will depend on how you prepare yourself for the first match and in previous years we've seen that the experienced players cope with it better; the less experienced guys seem to play well in one, but not the other. I think if you can take three points from two games you've had a right result.

 

Raymond van Barneveld plays twice this week and I expect the Dutchman to win this because he has consistency. If Chisnall is going to win the game he needs to do it in the first three or four legs by getting in front and getting in his opponent's head. Barney is not at the top of his game, but is taking out shots at the right time and, despite Chsinall's electric scoring power, I expect Barney's consistency to come through.

 

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"Raymond's been brilliant," said Wright. "I'd say that he's been the best player in the Premier League so far this year, without a doubt. He's so consistent and the only reason he's had those draws is because he's missed a few doubles, otherwise they'd have been all wins."

 

Wright has been a revelation in the Premier League with five wins, three draws and just one defeat in nine matches so far, but he knows it will not get any easier from here on in.

"If I get any more relaxed I'll go to sleep!" Wright added. "I'm just looking forward to playing all these fantastic players again, and the ones I beat will be wanting their revenge, but I'll keep my head on.

 

"I want to get closer to Michael and put the pressure on him in the next few weeks. It was getting a bit tight between the top five players, so to get a win last week gave me a little bit of breathing space."

 

Van Barneveld came back from 4-1 down to draw with Adrian Lewis last week to continue his run of stalemates, and believes more is needed to maintain his top-four status.

 

"It's nice of Peter to say that and I'm working hard but I've been in draw mode," said the Dutchman. "From now on I've got to win matches. Last week was a gift from Adrian and I know I need to improve.

 

"I'm still third but from now on it's open season and every player could reach the semi-finals. I'm always thinking about the top four; I'm not Raymond van Barneveld to entertain the crowd, I'm trying to get into the top four and reach the final. That's what I do, I want to win."

 

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After the drama of relegation and Judgement Night last week, all eyes are looking up at the top of the table from now on as the chase for the top four starts to heat up with eight men left standing.

 

With Simon Whitlock and Wes Newton exiting the competition, we're down to the final eight in the Betway Premier League fighting it out for four places in the play-off night in London next month.

 

There are still five fixtures on offer at the Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield on Thursday though, and this week Peter Wright and Raymond van Barneveld will both play twice - including a clash between the two to close the night's action.

 

Van Barneveld kicks off the night against Dave Chisnall and Wright plays Gary Anderson before they face each other, and both know they could overtake Michael van Gerwen at the top of the table by the end of the night, or at least help cement their place in the top four.

 

Both men are keen to stake an early claim for a play-off spot, but they both know they're in for two tough games on Thursday night.

 

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Michael van Gerwen and Raymond van Barneveld secured places in the Premier League play-offs with wins in Manchester.

 

League leader Van Gerwen beat Dave Chisnall 7-4 for his ninth win of the season, taking his points tally to 20 and meaning he is guaranteed a top-four finish and with it a place at the O2 Arena on May 22 with three weeks of the regular-season remaining.

 

Van Gerwen was not at his best, trailing Chisnall 4-3 before reeling off four legs in a row to turn things round.

 

"I didn't play that well, I know I can do a lot better," he told Sky Sports.

 

"But on the night the most important thing is to win. Now I've qualified for the play-offs it gives me even more confidence and I can chill-out for my games in the next few weeks. I'll be there!"

 

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