WES NEWTON is preparing for possibly the biggest night of his career when he faces Phil Taylor in the Sky Bet Mobile World Matchplay quarter-finals on Friday.
The 33-year-old from Fleetwood will make the journey of less than ten miles to the Winter Gardens in Blackpool, where he will face the reigning and 11-time World Matchplay winner in front of a sell-out crowd.
Whilst Newton won through to the Speedy Hire UK Open final in Bolton last month, he is excited by the prospect of taking on Taylor on home soil in his first World Matchplay quarter-final.
"The final at Bolton was the biggest night of my career up to now, but this is a real big game, it doesn't get much better than this," said Newton.
"I'll try to forget the pressure and play darts like I have done for the last year-and-a-half, but it's as big a game as they come.
"Phil's the best player that there has ever been and I've got massive respect for him. Darts wouldn't be as popular if it wasn't for him, and we wouldn't be playing for this much prize money if it wasn't for him.
"I'll approach it like it's the toughest game of my life, which it is, but I'm confident that I can play well and give him a game.
"If I can play my best on the day I can beat anyone in the world, and I'm looking forward to the game."
Taylor has seen many of the sport's major titles slip from his grasp since last summer, but returned to top form with a 108 average in defeating Wayne Jones 13-7 on Thursday night.
"Phil's not playing the darts that we know he can, but I watched him against Wayne Jones and he had a 108 average for most of the game, which is the Phil Taylor of old," added Newton.
"I'll prepare for the best Phil Taylor and I think we'll have a good game - and hopefully I'll win."
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