PHIL TAYLOR has labelled Michael van Gerwen as 'phenomenal' ahead of their Betway Premier League shoot-out at Rotterdam Ahoy on Thursday.
Great rivals Taylor and van Gerwen will face off on the final league night as the tournament makes its first visit to the Netherlands this Thursday, where a 10,000 sell-out crowd will welcome the sport's biggest names to the stage.
The night will culminate in the decisive contest between Taylor and van Gerwen, who are level on 24 league points going into the tie with the new £25,000 League Leader's Bonus on offer for the player who finishes top.
Van Gerwen's amazing season has seen him unbeaten in 14 matches since the opening night, and includes his world record televised average of 123.40 against Michael Smith in Aberdeen.
Taylor has praised the Dutchman, admitting: "What he does, I say it's unbelievable but it isn't because he does it week-in and week-out.
"He's just a phenomenal player, he's brilliant and I can't knock him. How he does it, I don't know."
Van Gerwen and Taylor are the only two players in Premier League history to have topped the regular season's table going into the Play-Offs, with the Stoke legend achieving the feat for eight straight years from 2005-2012 before the Dutchman's consistency saw him top the standings for the past three years.
Having missed out on the top four last year for the first time, Taylor firstly set his sights on reclaiming a Play-Off place before targeting the new League Leader's Bonus.
"That what it's about, whoever's top is the best player in the Premier League," added Taylor. "For me, it was qualifying for The O2, that's what I wanted, and then it was getting the £25,000 bonus. Everybody wants that.
"Barry Hearn has created a bit of a monster here because some of the players, especially myself, we're all nitty gritty and beginning to fall out with each other - it's a massive incentive to do well!
"It's going to be interesting and I'm going to enjoy it."
Phil Taylor Video Interview
Betway Premier League
Night 15, Rotterdam Ahoy
Robert Thornton v James Wade
Peter Wright v Raymond van Barneveld
Adrian Lewis v Gary Anderson
Phil Taylor v Michael van Gerwen
Best of 12 legs