RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD is bidding to end the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts season on a high on Thursday.
Van Barneveld takes on Ronnie Baxter at the Trent FM Arena in Nottingham and is looking to claim a third successive win to celebrate his return to form.
The Dutchman endured a disappointing and difficult season in the Premier League, with five successive defeats seeing him drop to the foot of the table before a nine-darter in Aberdeen in week 12 sparked his return to form.
He defeated Terry Jenkins in that game and then overcame Mervyn King last week, and can damage the play-off hopes of Baxter on Thursday if he completes a win treble.
"I've got no pressure and all the pressure will be on Ronnie in Nottingham," said van Barneveld. "I'll play the same as I have done for the last two weeks and hopefully it will be enough.
"All the pressure was on Mervyn last week and it's on Ronnie this time, and I can go on stage and enjoy the games.
"I've been very impressed by Ronnie this season, he's done really well this Premier League and I can't take this match easy. He's a world class player and has had a lot of good results."
Van Barneveld moved off the foot of the table last week, jumping above Jenkins - and could even move above Adrian Lewis in the final standings should results work in his favour on Thursday.
"I just want to finish as high as I can in the table," said the Dutchman. "I'm trying to finish the best I can and the way I've been playing I wish the Premier League was running for another five weeks now!
"I told myself I have to believe in myself again and I'm building up for the rest of the year, but I want to finish the Premier League as high as possible in the table.
"I've lost eight games this season and that's disappointing for me but I can't control my opponent or what happens in Adrian's game. All I can do is play good darts."
Meanwhile, van Barneveld has been presented with a commemorative bottle of Whyte & Mackay whisky (pictured above) to recognise his nine-dart finish in Aberdeen.
The achievement was his second nine-darter in the Premier League, matching his feat in the 2006 event against Peter Manley in Bournemouth, and the first on TV in Scotland.
Tournament sponsors Whyte & Mackay have recognised van Barneveld's nine-darter by presenting the five-time World Championship with a commemorative bottle of their finest 30-year-old blend whisky.
"We offer our congratulations to Raymond for throwing an outstanding nine-darter in Aberdeen," said Philip McTeer, Head of Brand for Whyte & Mackay.
"In recognition of his achievement we presented him with a bottle of Whyte & Mackay 30-year-old, as its only fitting that one of the world's best darts players celebrates his successes with a dram of the world's best blended whisky.
"Much like our whisky, Raymond is consistent in style, smooth under pressure and always a crowd pleaser."
Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts
Night 14, Trent FM Arena, Nottingham
Terry Jenkins v James Wade
Ronnie Baxter v Raymond van Barneveld
Simon Whitlock v Mervyn King
Phil Taylor v Adrian Lewis
Live on Sky Sports HD 2 from 7pm
Fans outside the UK and Ireland can watch live through www.pdc.tv
Sky Bet Match Odds
Terry Jenkins 4/1, Draw 9/2, James Wade 2/5
Ronnie Baxter 2/1, Draw 7/2, Raymond van Barneveld 5/6
Simon Whitlock 5/6, Draw 7/2, Mervyn King 2/1
Phil Taylor 3/10, Draw 9/2, Adrian Lewis 11/2
Sky Bet are the official bookmaker of the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts. Odds correct at 12pm on Wednesday May 12.