Rod Harrington's Sky Bet Preview

ROD HARRINGTON previews the seventh league night of the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts.

The Sky Sports expert, in his Sky Bet video preview, looks at the four games to be staged at the NIA in Birmingham as the Premier League reaches its half-way point.

Sky Bet, the official bookmaker of the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts, have a full range of markets on the event, including 25 different markets per match ahead of the event.

Sky Bet offer a range of in-play markets throughout the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts - click here to visit the Sky Bet website

Rod Harrington's Sky Bet video preview is freely available on the Home page of this website.

Tickets for the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts at the NIA in Birmingham on Thursday are still available, priced at £20 and on sale on 0844 338 8000 or from www.theticketfactory.com.

Mervyn King v Simon Whitlock
Simon Whitlock has not been scoring very well. His averages are below 90 and he's been coming up against a guy who's been as solid as you can get in the professional game, Mervyn King.

At 4/6 I think Mervyn King is an absolute steal against Simon Whitlock. I think he's going to win it, and perhaps win it quite convincingly.

Match Odds
Mervyn King 4/6, Draw 7/2, Simon Whitlock 5/2

James Wade v Terry Jenkins
Terry, as I've said before, is not firing on all cylinders and his leg-on-leg average is not good enough and he's coming up against a young man who is playing extremely well and really coming into form.

I watched James a lot in Crawley at the weekend and he hit a lot of 180s and 140s and played really well.

At 4/6 I think he's going to beat Terry Jenkins this week. I think James Wade is on his way back and I think he's going to be in the top four at the end of the season.

Match Odds
James Wade 4/6, Draw 7/2, Terry Jenkins 5/2

Raymond van Barneveld v Ronnie Baxter
Raymond, like James, is another player coming back into form.

Ronnie has been the dark horse of the Premier League and been playing really well from the start but he's coming up against a Barney who is settled with his darts.

He played in Crawley at the weekend and played really well, and he seems to be really happy - and when he's happy with his darts and his throw then he's dangerous.

As good and as solid as Ronnie has been, Barney at 10/11 is real good value and my bet of the night.

Match Odds
Raymond van Barneveld 10/11, Draw 7/2, Ronnie Baxter 7/4

Adrian Lewis v Phil Taylor
This is the game we've all been waiting for; the master against the apprentice.

Adrian Lewis is convincing himself that he can beat Phil Taylor this time - he keeps saying every time he plays Taylor.

Phil's scoring ability, his setting up and his checkouts are just too strong for Adrian.

Phil has been starting slowly in the whole of the Premier League, so if Adrian can get out of the gate and hold onto it, like Mervyn King did, then he has got a chance.

But I see Taylor, the master, winning this one again.

Match Odds
Adrian Lewis 5/1, Draw 9/2, Phil Taylor 1/3

Rod's Specials
I normally suggest a few bets and the double is for James Wade and Raymond van Barneveld to win, and Barney as a single is a must too.

Another double would be for both Wade and van Barneveld to hit the most 180s. They've both been playing well and are heavy scorers, and that double pays just over 3/1.

Sky Bet do 25 different markets for each game, and a fun bet would be Adrian Lewis to be winning at the break and Phil Taylor to win the match, and Terry Jenkins to be winning the break and James Wade to win the match. They both pay 18/1, and a £1 double would pay over £340, which may be worth a little bit of a punt.

Tickets for the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts at the NIA in Birmingham on Thursday are still available, priced at £20 and on sale on 0844 338 8000 or from www.theticketfactory.com.

Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts
Week Seven - NIA, Birmingham
Mervyn King v Simon Whitlock
James Wade v Terry Jenkins
Raymond van Barneveld v Ronnie Baxter
Adrian Lewis v Phil Taylor
Tickets: 0844 338 8000 or www.theticketfactory.com

Watch Live!
Coverage of the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts is live on Sky Sports HD
Fans outside of the UK and Ireland can watch live in PDCtv - click here for information