MICHAEL VAN GERWEN and James Hubbard will battle for the PDC Unicorn World Youth Championship title on Thursday night.
The pair have waited since November's qualifying rounds in Crawley for the chance to challenge for the £15,000 title when they step out between the semi-finals and final of the McCoy's Premier League Darts Play-Offs at The O2 in London.
The night gives van Gerwen the chance to erase the memories of his defeat to Arron Monk when the tournament - then the World Under-21 Championship - was first played, having lost 6-4 at Alexandra Palace in January 2011.
Van Gerwen bounced back to win four events when the PDC Unicorn Youth Tour was introduced last year, and followed up reaching the World Youth Championship final by hitting a nine-darter in winning a Speedy Services UK Open Qualifier in February.
"It's my second final and it's my turn to win," said van Gerwen, who will be playing for the last time in a Youth event on Thursday night.
"Last year I lost the final against Arron and he played very well, but it hurt me so much. For weeks afterwards I was disappointed and kept thinking about the game, but because I was still able to play on the Youth Tour last year it gave me another chance to make the final.
"I've done that so now I want to win. I feel more confident now.
"I have to play my own game and not make the mistakes I did last year."
The 23-year-old added: "It would mean a lot to me to win.
"Everyone knows how important I think this is - I want to win, it's my last chance to do it and I want to make sure I do."
Although Hubbard had played fleetingly on the Youth Tour last year, his achievement in reaching the World Youth Championship final was rewarded with a TV debut in the 2011 William Hill Grand Slam of Darts and a Tour Card to turn professional.
His first opponent in a major televised game was Phil Taylor in Wolverhampton, while he has impressed since with some strong performances on the PDC ProTour.
"I've proved recently that I can hold my own in professional events," the 19-year-old from Norfolk told the Modus Darts website. "My run to the quarter-final of the UK Open Qualifier last week has given me a massive confidence boost.
"I'm looking forward to playing Michael, knowing that I've beaten players of the same calibre.
"I'm practising hard and feeling quite good. I've been working hard on my finishing because I think that could be the key in the final. If Michael plays like he can then I will have to make sure I take my chances when they come."
Although Thursday's crowd of around 10,000 at The O2 will be the biggest Hubbard has ever played in front of, he attended last week's league night at the Metro Radio Arena to taste the atmosphere first hand.
"The crowd were amazing," he said. "There's going to be at least twice as many people at The O2 and not every darts player gets the chance to play in front of that kind of crowd.
"I'm a lucky guy and hopefully I'll be able to make the most of the opportunity I've got.
"I think the pressure is more on Michael because he has more experience. He lost in the final last year as well so that could be playing on his mind.
"I have seen a lot more of him than he has of me, so I think I can use that to my advantage.
"Winning would mean everything to me. When you first pick up a dart you dream of being a World Champion.
"To be a World Champion at any level is a fantastic achievement and it really would be a dream come true for me."
Hubbard is being sponsored by former World Champion Mark Webster having turned professional at the start of the year, and has been backed
"It's great for him," said Webster. "A year ago he wasn't really playing competitive darts and he's going to get to play in The O2 Arena in a major final.
"I've played in the Premier League at The O2 and it is a bit intimidating, but it's just like playing a game of darts anywhere else so hopefully that's how James will see it.
"He's got a massive future and he's done really well this year. He can obviously win it, but the experience is going to be great for him as well."
Webster has also seen much of van Gerwen's career since the Dutchman broke through as a teenager in 2005, and he added: "Michael's probably the most experienced 23-year-old dart player there is so James is up against it."
Dutchman Vincent van der Voort has known van Gerwen since the youngster emerged by winning full Mens events aged just 15, and backed him for success on Thursday.
"He's a very good friend of mine and an awesome player," said van der Voort. "He's been around for many years now so it's different seeing him in a Youth final.
"He's got so much experience and he's such a great player. He's really looking forward to the final - he's determined to win.
"He's an unbelievable talent - I've never seen anybody with as much talent as him. The first year I knew him he was 15 years old, and he was awesome.
"I'd heard about him but never seen him and then I saw the very busy guy jumping around in the venues and playing awesome darts - he had no fear.
Van Gerwen became the youngest winner of a major darts title when he claimed the 2006 World Masters title aged 17, but after joining the PDC the following year has yet to add to that with a televised title.
"I think in a year he could be in the top ten," added van der Voort. "In the years that it didn't work for him we talked a lot and I gave him lots of advice - I don't know if he uses it!
"Since the Grand Slam of Darts last year he's had so much confidence and this year is different for him."
See video interviews with Mark Webster and Vincent van der Voort in LIVEPDC.TV and also on the PDC YouTube Channel.
The game is being played over the best of 11 legs, and will take place following the McCoy's Premier League Darts semi-finals.