GERWYN PRICE will make his darting debut for Wales at the Betway World Cup of Darts this weekend to continue his emergence at the sport's highest level.
Price's brilliant rise in just over two years as a professional has seen him overtake Jamie Lewis in the PDC Order of Merit to earn selection alongside left-hander Mark Webster for the 32-nation event in Frankfurt.
Price's two recent Players Championship victories have helped him move up to 25th in the world rankings and made him one of the year's leading performers so far, as well as helping him to achieve the ambition of representing his country at darts.
"Over the past 12 months, this has probably been my main target," Price told pdc.tv. "Obviously I wanted to get into all the other TV events, but I've been trying to catch Jamie and Mark in the last year and thankfully I've pushed in front of Jamie and done it.
"My form's been a little bit up and down recently to be honest. I've won two Players Championship events, but in the last few stage events I've not done very well.
"Hopefully I can take my form off the floor and get back into gear, but it's difficult taking it from the floor to the stage."
The Betway World Cup of Darts will see Price compete professionally for the first time in a Pairs event, but with Webster having competed for Wales in all five previous events the Markham thrower is aiming to utilise his team-mate's experience.
"It's a lot different," admits the 31-year-old. "When you're playing for yourself, the only person you're upsetting is yourself, but now I'm not just playing for myself, I'm playing for Mark and for the whole of Wales so there is a little bit more added pressure.
"I'm not sure how it's going to go or how it's going to feel, but I'm sure I'll do alright. I spoke to Mark leading up to the selection and he said that the hardest part is getting through the first game, which is just Pairs.
"Once you're into the tournament you start to play Singles matches, but the first game will be tough.
"We're playing Finland, and it's like playing against a slow player because you're every fourth throw and it's hard to get a bit of rhythm. I'm sure we'll get through the first round and then hopefully we'll improve from there.
"Mark's got experience and he's the number one and captain of Wales and I'm sure I'll work pretty well with him.
"I'm just looking forward to getting out there, putting the Welsh shirt on and seeing what happens. I'm sure he'll perform well and give me some advice.
"We've not practised together yet because he lives quite far from me in north Wales but we'll meet up when I get to Germany and have a practice then."
Wales enter the World Cup as a 25/1 chance with sponsors Betway to win the title for the first time, but Price is aiming to upset the odds at the Eissporthalle.
"We play with the likes of Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen and Gary Anderson week-in, week-out and they're beatable, and a Pairs tournament is different as well," he added.
"Mark and myself have been playing well and I've looked at the way the draw can work out and I think we can get to the semi-finals and possibly play England - but there's going to be some tough games leading up to that.
"If we can do that we can try and put some pressure on England then in the semi-finals and see what happens."
This weekend will see Price represent his country in a third sport, having previously played for Wales during his time playing rugby union and rugby league.
"I played for Wales from when I was 17 in the Under-17s Development Squad, the Under-18s, Under-19s and Under-21s," he revealed.
"The only thing I missed out on was the full international, which was a pity, but I won the Grand Slam a couple of times with the younger ages and there was a lot of pride in that.
"I think my main goal from when I was younger was to play rugby and to play in the Millennium Stadium against England in the Six Nations. It's a little bit different now in darts but I'm over the moon to be in the World Cup and I'm chuffed to bits.
"I played at amateur level for Wales at rugby league too, and it's nice to do it in darts now."
The Betway World Cup of Darts will take place from June 2-5 at the Eissporthalle in Frankfurt, Germany, live on Sky Sports. For tickets, visit www.pdc-europe.tv .