TONY O'SHEA is relishing the chance to kick off the William Hill Grand Slam of Darts against a familiar face in Adrian Lewis.
Two-time Lakeside Championship finalist O'Shea will make his fourth Grand Slam appearance this year and has been draw alongside Lewis, Gary Anderson and John Part in Group E.
He will meet Lewis on Sunday afternoon in their opening fixture, over a decade since first meeting the shy youngster from Stoke.
"Adrian played as a young kid for the Cheshire County team so I've known his family for a while," said O'Shea. "He's a top kid and I'm dead proud to have seen him come through and become World Champion.
"Both myself, Darryl Fitton and the other Cheshire boys said years ago that one day he was going to move on and become a big star, and I can't believe he's only won two major titles so far.
"I know the World Championship's the best event you can win, but I thought he'd have won a few more by now and it wouldn't surprise me if he wins the Grand Slam next week.
"He's a legend already and he's still got so much to look forward to."
O'Shea - nicknamed 'Silverback' - is a fans' favourite at the Wolves Civic, with his performances on the oche coming after his roof-raising walk-on to the song 'Hey, Baby'.
"I know it's a bit cheesy but it gets the crowd going!" he says. "I love the crowds and I try to get out and watch some of the other games during the Grand Slam with them, and at exhibitions I try and spend a lot of time with the fans.
"That intimacy really helps me a lot and the crowd gave me such a lift in the first year in 2009, when I made the quarter-finals. The crowd were great for me and they've been with me ever since."
O'Shea could certainly need the support of the Wolves Civic crowd after being drawn out in what some pundits are calling the 'Group of Death', but he is relishing the challenge of facing Lewis, Anderson and Part.
"I've been quoted in the past as saying that I like to be the underdog, and that probably applies more than ever this year." added the 51-year-old. "I don't think I could have picked a tougher group if I'd tried!
"But I like being the underdog and you never know what can happen. I've really enjoyed it in the last three years and I'm looking forward to being back in Wolverhampton."