TERRY JENKINS hopes to continue the form which took him to the Betfair World Matchplay semi-finals in July when he competes in the PartyPoker.net European Championship.
The world number eight defeated Kim Huybrechts, Raymond van Barneveld and Adrian Lewis to reach the last four of the World Matchplay this summer, before losing out narrowly to James Wade in Blackpool.
The run saw Jenkins reach the semi-finals of a major for the first time in 18 months and also saw him return to the world's top ten after he had slipped down the rankings during that time.
"I had a good run in Blackpool but I went into the tournament expecting it to be honest," said Jenkins.
"I had a tough first round game against Kim Huybrechts which I won 11-9, although if I'd lost that game I still wouldn't have been disappointed because I played so well and didn't do anything wrong.
"I got through that game and had a decent run, which I think I deserved. If you can knock the World Champion out, like I did to Adrian, it is a feather in your cap and a big boost for your confidence.
"We could play again in the European Championship too, and it's probably about even between us as we've played a lot of times.
"I don't treat him as a World Champion when we're up there on stage, I just treat him as another player and that showed in Blackpool."
Jenkins ended a three-year wait for a tournament victory with a Speedy Services UK Open Qualifier win in May, and also reached the quarter-finals of the UK Open in June.
The seven-time major finalist has jumped from 11th to eighth in the PDC Order of Merit in recent months, and should he continue his current form could be a contender for a return to the McCoy's Premier League Darts in 2013.
"I think the only reason I slipped down was because I missed a few competitions out last year," he said. "I didn't go to some of the overseas events in Germany and Holland but playing in the Premier League was tiring me out.
"I don't take anything away from the Premier League because it's a great event and every player should want to be in it, but it is tiring. I'm getting a bit older now and the travelling does take its toll on me!
"Maybe I needed 12 months away from the Premier League, and it's done me the world of good. If I keep playing well, who knows if I won't be back in there next year.
"I've had a good break through August and haven't played much darts but it's great to be back and it's going well - I made the last 16 of the European Tour event in Germany at the weekend.
"I'm not over-practising, but I'm doing enough to keep my form at the right level, and I'm keeping my head right. I'm feeling a lot more confident and happy in myself."
Jenkins will take on van Barneveld in arguably the tie of the first round in the European Championship on Friday September 21, and is looking forward to returning to Germany for the ESPN-televised event.
"I've always seem to do well coming over to the continent," said Jenkins. "I won the Antwerp Open three years in a row and the Primus Masters in Belgium a few times, and I've done well in a few events in Holland too.
"The atmosphere over in Europe's great and the crowds are good. They support both players and are really growing in Germany."
Jenkins' preparations for the European Championship will include an exhibition at Walsall FC on Thursday September 13 alongside Andy Smith, Peter Manley and Wayne Mardle.
"We always have a bit of fun when we do exhibitions and it will be a good night," said Jenkins. "All the guys like to have a laugh and some fun when we're playing.
"Peter and Wayne are great entertainers anyway, and Andy seems to always get people laughing. He's fallen off a stage before in an exhibition and also knocked over the stage once, so anything could happen!"
Tickets for the exhibition at Walsall FC are available by calling 01922 651 418 or via www.saddlers.co.uk.
The PartyPoker.net European Championship will be held from September 20-23 at the RWE Sporthalle in Muelheim, Germany and screened live on ESPN.
ESPN UK is available at Sky channel 417, Virgin channel 529, Freeview Top Up TV channel 34 and BT Vision channel 34. ESPN Classic is available at Sky channel 425 and Virgin channel 533.
To subscribe and watch ESPN, including the PartyPoker.net European Darts Championship, call 0844 324 1540 or click here to visit the ESPN website for more subscription information.