RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD admits he needs to improve if he is to overcome Simon Whitlock on Saturday.
The Dutchman has won through to the semi-finals of the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship by dropping just one set in his four wins so far.
However, his 95.16 average in defeating Ronnie Baxter 5-0 in the quarter-finals was his highest yet in this year's event - something he concedes he must raise if he is to see off in-form Whitlock, who averaged 105 in defeating James Wade on Friday.
"Averages are for commentators and journalists and hitting your doubles is all that matters, but I know I have to improve," said van Barneveld.
"I've only dropped one set so far but it's got to be a lot better against Simon.
"We're good friends and have known each other for a lot of years, he's world class and had the courage to come to the PDC and you've seen what he can do."
Despite some low averages - compared to the ton-plus averages recorded by Whitlock, Phil Taylor and Adrian Lewis - van Barneveld has hit a nine-darter during the World Championship and is happy with the new set-up of his darts.
"On the finishes I'm very pleased," he said. "Backstage I'm scoring well but it's still not going well on stage.
"I know what I can do and if people hit 140s and 180s against me then I hit them back, but if people hit 43s and 58s against me I hit 43s and 58s!
"But I'm getting better and better, and I believe in the configuration of the darts, the stems and the flights.
"It's a crazy game. There are players who averaged 99 and got beaten in the first round.
"I remember when Jelle Klaasen beat me in the Lakeside Championship, all week he was 28 and 29 averages and didn't even hit a 30 average and he beat me in the final."
Whitlock was sensational in seeing off James Wade 5-3 in the quarter-finals, taking the final six legs without reply to pull from three-all to victory, and recorded 15 180s and a 170 checkout in his win.
"James is one tough person and I had to play my best darts to beat the man," said Whitlock. "That's my best performance on TV but I feel confident in going all the way in this tournament.
"I've played Raymond a few times and beaten him once but it's going to be a hard game.
"I don't worry about who I'm playing, I just get up there and play my darts. I've put lots of practice in, more than ever, and it's paying off now."
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