GARY ANDERSON is aiming to avoid a giant-killing against newcomer Richard North in the Unibet World Grand Prix next week.
World number two Anderson enjoyed his best run in the double-start format when he won through to last year's World Grand Prix final in Dublin, where Michael van Gerwen denied him the title.
He begins this year's tournament on Monday night against debutant Richard North, who only won his PDC Tour Card in January but has qualified for his first Dublin appearance.
"It was great in Dublin last year and I'd love to have another good run," said Anderson.
"I think I played Richard a couple of months ago but I keep hearing about him and he's been knocking out big names, but he's up on stage now and he's got to learn the stage.
"The double-start format is always hard - I'm lucky if I can finish a game on doubles, never mind start on doubles!"
Anderson was also the runner-up in his most recent TV appearance at the Champions League of Darts last month, where he was defeated by Mensur Suljovic in both his opening group match and the final.
"The Champions League was great after a couple of weeks without playing," said Anderson, who had a short break before the Champions League following his victory in August's Perth Darts Masters.
"You could see how much it meant to Mensur and he was great, he was the player of the tournament. He did a clean sweep and smashed the lot of us, and it was well deserved.
"I'm a great believer that family comes first and Mensur is similar. He had a baby in August and I've got one on the way. I've had a lot going on and we've been trying to get everything ready for the baby since I got back from Perth.
"It was a couple of weeks since I'd played, in Perth, and I struggled in the opening game but got better as the weekend went on."
Anderson's run to the final in Cardiff last month included a semi-final victory against great rival Phil Taylor in what could have been their final big-stage meeting.
"It was great playing Phil," adds Anderson. "It's an honour - he's retiring and there's a lot of young players coming through who will never get the chance to play him on stage.
"I've always said that I've been lucky enough to get battered by him and to beat him.
"The dream game now would be the World Championship final to be myself and Phil - I'd be over the moon to get there and to play Phil in his last World Championship in the final would be the icing on the cake."
The Unibet World Grand Prix will be held from October 1-7 at the Citywest Hotel in Dublin and broadcast live on Sky Sports.
For tickets, visit www.ticketmaster.ie, call 00353 (0)1 401 0505 or email darts17@citywesthotel.com.