ADRIAN LEWIS and Andy Hamilton have set their sights on success in the inaugural Dubai Duty Free Darts Masters next week, following the end of their McCoy's Premier League Darts season.
The Stoke pair missed out on places in the McCoy's Premier League Darts Play-Offs this season, with Lewis overcoming defeats in his opening four matches to avoid relegation before ending the campaign eighth.
Hamilton was seventh in the final league table, meaning that the pair are forced to watch from the sidelines as the likes of Michael van Gerwen and Phil Taylor battle for the title in London this week.
However, their focus is already set on the Dubai Duty Free Darts Masters, which will be held at the Dubai Tennis Stadium on May 23-24 and sees a major televised event visit the emirate for the first time.
"It's an exciting time that the PDC's going global and it's massive as a player to be involved in this," said Lewis. "I'm really looking forward to the event and hopefully I can win it.
"It would mean a lot to win this because it's a big tournament featuring the world's top eight, so I can't wait to get up there and show the fans what we can do.
"As soon as the draw's been made [on Wednesday May 22 in Dubai] I can start focusing on the first game, which is vital, and then as you move forward you can look ahead."
Two-time World Champion Lewis finished the Premier League season with a flourish as he defeated Hamilton and drew with Simon Whitlock on the final league night, and is confident
that he can hit top form this summer.
"I had a really patchy year to be honest after winning the World Championship last year, but I've started knuckling down and putting the work in," added Lewis.
"I know if I'm not putting the hard work in that the other players are and it's been a big motivation for me.
"I've been practising with Phil Taylor recently and we're trying to sharpen each other up, and it's been a big help. You can't find a better practice partner than Phil Taylor!"
Hamilton had been a semi-finalist in last year's Premier League but missed out this time around - and is hoping that the visit to Dubai can help him regain his early-season form.
"It was disappointing not to reach the Play-Offs, especially because I started the season well, but I enjoyed every minute of the Premier League season," said Hamilton.
"The Premier League always sets me up for the TV tournaments and I can't wait for the next one in Dubai.
"It will be interesting in Dubai and it should be a great event for everybody. I'm so proud of myself to be in the top eight, and to be going out there to represent this sport and the PDC is a dream.
"It's a new place for us all to go to and we're not sure what to expect, but it's exciting time for us and for darts."
Like Lewis, Hamilton has never previously visited Dubai, but he admits he will be fulfilling a 'dream' next week.
"I've never been that far afield so it's exciting to be going to Dubai," he added. "My dream was just to play darts on TV but the next dream was to travel all around the world.
"I've done a bit of that, with the likes of Las Vegas, and obviously we'll get to see another new culture in Dubai. It's very exciting."
Tickets for the Dubai Duty Free Darts Masters - costing AED199 per day, AED299 for two-day and AED495 for two-day VIP tickets - are still available through Irish Village (www.irishvillage.ae) and Timeout Tickets (www.itp.net/tickets).
Corporate Hospitality tables, which include all food and beverages, are on sale through One Events (www.iuae.ae) or Radar (www.radar-world.com).