ADRIAN LEWIS is hoping to inspire his football counterparts when he partners Phil Taylor in their bid to secure a hat-trick of bwin World Cup of Darts victories this weekend.
Lewis and Taylor have teamed up for the past two years to lead England to glory in darts' World Cup - twice returning from Germany with the trophy as the sport's best nation.
Although last year's final saw them sweep past Belgian brothers Kim and Ronny Huybrechts, the 2012 decider went all the way to a sudden-death leg against Australia.
The darting version of a penalty shoot-out saw Taylor as well as Aussie rivals Simon Whitlock and Paul Nicholson all miss match darts before Lewis landed the double five to give England the title.
The two-time World Champion is now hoping that he can inspire a summer of sporting success for England by retaining the trophy in Hamburg in this weekend's 32-nation tournament.
"If we can win the World Cup of Darts, I'm sure the lads can go on and win the World Cup of football," said Lewis.
"A lot of people don't realise how much it means when you're up there with that England shirt on. It means a lot to both of us and we'll go up there and try our best, and hopefully come away with the trophy.
"I don't feel any pressure on myself, I feel like I'm doing it for everybody else and I give my all to make sure England win it."
That was typified when Lewis held his nerve to secure the 2012 title for England - dropping to his knees in celebration of an honour which he admits ranks alongside his two World Championship victories.
"When the world's on your shoulders, it shows how much bottle you've got," he said. "When I hit the double five against Australia to win the World Cup the first time, it's not for yourself and you can't bottle it.
"When it came to that double five, after they've just missed [darts to win], I was thinking 'I don't want a shot at this!'.
"I've got Phil behind me telling me to take my time, and when you're a quick thrower that's the last thing you want to hear!"
Lewis admits that teaming up with Taylor, his former mentor and practice partner in Stoke, gives them an added edge going into the tournament
He added: "Everybody wrote him off at the beginning of the Premier League but he's shown his class.
"Phil's the best player who's ever graced the game of darts, and even if I won ten World Championship titles I'd think he's the best ever; the way he goes about his business, his mindset and everything really - he's just a freak of nature.
"We're both looking forward to the World Cup because we love playing darts with each other and we're both winners, and we want to win this for England."
Lewis cites 2010 winners Netherlands as England's main rivals going into the event, with World Champion Michael van Gerwen and new Premier League champion Raymond van Barneveld the 11/10 favourites with bwin.
However, Lewis is in confident mood and said: "There's nobody with the experience of me and Phil, apart from maybe Barney and Michael.
"In the first year, Phil wasn't great and I pulled him through it, and last year I wasn't great and he pulled me through. We're a great team, and if we both click this year, then I can't see anybody else winning it."