JAMES WADE is looking to increase the pressure on Phil Taylor at the head of the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts when the tournament visits the Sheffield Arena on Thursday.
Wade will complete his league fixtures for 2009 when he takes on Jelle Klaasen in Sheffield, in the penultimate league night of the season.
While a place in the play-offs is assured for world number two, a win over the Dutchman would see him move back to the top of the table ahead of Taylor, who plays Mervyn King next week in his final match.
Finishing top would guarantee a semi-final against the fourth-placed player, with second playing third in the play-offs at the Wembley Arena on May 25.
"Winning a place in the play-offs was the main aim and that's done now but it would be great to finish top of the table and take that into the play-offs," said Wade.
"To finish ahead of Phil over the course of the league would be a great achievement, although I maybe let it slip when I didn't finish the job in Nottingham and Phil drew with me.
"But I've got to look after my own game this week and then it's up to him to beat Mervyn in Cardiff."
Wade has averaged over 100 in three of his last four games, including a 108 average in an 8-1 defeat of Terry Jenkins, but admits Taylor's record tally of 116 in seeing off John Part last week has created a new standard.
"At the moment if I'm averaging 105 or 106, I'm playing okay, but if I get over that then it's a good game," said Wade.
"Unless I average 107, 108 or 109 I feel like I'm not doing anything special - but it's Phil who has set that margin, and he does it all the time."
Wade defeated Robert Thornton 7-2 in a Challenge Match in Aberdeen last week, but believes the Scot could hold his own should he qualify for next year's Premier League.
"It's hard up there and I think he learned a lot on Thursday," said Wade. "He had all the crowd with him and expected a lot from himself.
"He's got bundles of talent, he's a quality player and he scores for fun. I think the only weak part of his game is his finishing, and in Aberdeen he experienced pressure for the first time.
"Although he's been playing darts a lot longer than I have, I'm fortunate enough that I've been playing top level darts a little bit longer and my experience on the stage showed."
A limited number of tickets for Thursday's Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts still remain on sale, priced at £20 and available on 0114 256 5656.
Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts
April 30 - Sheffield Arena
Raymond van Barneveld v Adrian Lewis (Challenge Match)
Phil Taylor v Dennis Priestley (Challenge Match)
Terry Jenkins v John Part
James Wade v Jelle Klaasen
Live on Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports HD1 from 7pm
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