GARY ANDERSON and Robert Thornton will cast aside their friendship when they compete in the McCoy's Premier League Darts' first all-Scottish showdown on Thursday.
The pair will clash when the McCoy's Premier League Darts visits Exeter's Westpoint Arena, with Thornton still unbeaten in his debut season following a win and two draws.
Anderson, the 2011 champion, has picked up just one victory so far this season and went down narrowly to Andy Hamilton in Bournemouth last week.
The two Scots teamed up a month ago to represent their country in the Betfair World Cup of Darts and have also competed together previously in that event and the 2009 Jocky Wilson Cup.
However, Thornton admits that their friendship will be left behind when they enter the Westpoint Arena on Thursday.
"It's absolutely brilliant for Scottish darts," said the UK Open champion. "There's not too many Scottish players in the PDC and hopefully watching this will make others join and hopefully we can have a few more.
"Since we joined the PDC, Gary and I have had some humdingers of matches. We wind each other up and spur each other on, and it's a bit of friendly banter.
"We know at the end of the night we'll be mates and it's all in good fun."
Anderson took victory in the pair's last televised meeting, at the Cash Converters Players Championship Finals last November, and is hoping to claim both points in this Thursday's all-Scottish contest.
"It's not happened before in the Premier League and it's exciting," admitted Anderson. "Robert's doing alright so far, it's his first year in the Premier League and he's enjoying it.
"We played together in the World Cup last month but we'll be beating each other up on stage in Exeter. We're both looking for a win - and if my doubles come in I'll be alright!"
Anderson also revealed his frustration after seeing missed doubles cost him as he went down 7-5 to Hamilton last week, and he said: "I'll outscore anybody but I just can't finish, and it's doing my nut in!
"I don't know what I can do because in practice I'm 120 percent happy with my game."
Thursday's McCoy's Premier League Darts is set to be another sell-out at Exeter's Westpoint Arena, with only a small number of tickets remaining. Tickets can be purchased by calling 08444 99 99 55 or visiting www.westpointarena.co.uk.
McCoy's Premier League Darts
Week Four
February 28 - Westpoint Arena, Exeter
Robert Thornton v Gary Anderson
Andy Hamilton v Michael van Gerwen
James Wade v Phil Taylor
Wes Newton v Adrian Lewis
Raymond van Barneveld v Simon Whitlock