Simon Whitlock has admitted to feeling "a little bit nervous" as he prepares to headline the inaugural Dabble Darts ANZ Premier League.
Australian icon Whitlock is amongst an eight-player field who will compete in the ANZ Premier League over the next eight Saturdays.
He will take on DPA number one Joe Comito in his quarter-final tie on the opening night in Melbourne, in a high-profile beginning to the $160,000 event, which is live on Fox Sports, Kayo, Sky New Zealand and PDCTV.
The action also visits Newcastle, Canberra, Hobart, Adelaide, Wellington and the Gold Coast, before the top four player progress to the Play-Offs in Brisbane on November 22.
A place in the Paddy Power World Darts Championship is on offer for the eventual champion, alongside $30,000 in prize money.
Whilst the ANZ Premier League is a fresh opportunity for Whitlock's rivals to gain big-stage experience, the former European Championship and World Cup winner is bidding to relaunch his own career at the top level.
"I'm getting on a bit now, but I’ve got a lot of life left in me," Whitlock told Fox Sports. "I'm very enthusiastic about playing wherever I go.
"I'm a little bit nervous, there's a bit of pressure on me."
Whitlock's most recent TV appearance saw him edged out 6-4 by World Champion Luke Littler in the World Series of Darts Finals, although the Australian legend had led 4-3 at one stage,
“I played Luke recently and pushed him all the way, so my form's good," said the 56-year-old. "I felt as though I was a little unlucky.
"I had him in trouble and then he somehow pulled out some big checkouts and then I missed a dart to go to the last leg; could have been five-all and I would have had the walk, but it was a great game."
Tickets are available from Ticketek.
2025 Dabble Darts ANZ Premier League
Night One
Saturday October 4, John Cain Arena, Melbourne
Quarter-Finals
James Bailey v Jonny Tata
Simon Whitlock v Joe Comito
Tim Pusey v Raymond Smith
Ben Robb v Brody Klinge
Semi-Finals
Whitlock/Comito v Bailey/Tata
Pusey/Smith v Robb/Klinge
Final
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