WES NEWTON is determined not to feel the pressure as he plays for his McCoy's Premier League Darts future against Phil Taylor in Cardiff on Thursday.
The Fleetwood ace takes on the reigning champion at the Motorpoint Arena in the seventh league night of this year's event, and knows that his hopes of avoiding relegation could hinge on the clash.
Newton has picked up three points from his six games so far, and with three games remaining before the bottom two players are eliminated he is facing a must-win clash with the World Champion.
"I'll approach it with no pressure," said Newton. "I am where I am in the league table, and everyone expects Phil to win.
"Everybody wants to beat Phil - he's the best player there's ever been so hopefully I can do something."
Newton was defeated 7-4 by Michael van Gerwen last week, but hit two ten-dart legs during the game and was also on for a nine-darter being losing out to the in-form Dutchman.
"I played really well in stages last week and I've got to take the positives," he said. "I was disappointed to get beaten but there's nothing you can do to stop the best players in the world scoring and hitting doubles.
"Every week I'm putting myself under pressure to get a result because I don't want to be where I am, but the standard in darts at the minute is unbelievable and the best ten players are here in the Premier League.
"I'm playing well and I'm just not getting the results, but I'll keep coming every week and trying my heart out."
Last week's event in Manchester saw Newton play in front of the biggest crowd of his career, 8,000 fans, and he admits that the atmosphere was special as he and van Gerwen battled out an entertaining contest.
"It's absolutely awesome playing up there and I love it - this is where I want to be," he said. "I can't describe how good it is when there's 8,000 people singing, it's unbelievable but it's also been an eye-opener.
"You think you're a good player, but this is the top of the world stage and it makes you realise that you've got to have a bit of improvement in you and you're not quite there yet. That's shown in where I am at the minute.
"I'm happy to be here and I want to be here for as long as I can be, but I've got to improve."
Thursday's event at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff is a 4,000 sell-out as fans flock to the Welsh leg of the tournament, which will be screened live on Sky Sports 2HD.
McCoy's Premier League Darts
Week Seven
March 21 - Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff
Andy Hamilton v Simon Whitlock
Gary Anderson v Michael van Gerwen
Robert Thornton v Adrian Lewis
Wes Newton v Phil Taylor
James Wade v Raymond van Barneveld
Best of 12 legs
Coral Match Odds – Week Seven
Wes Newton v Phil Taylor
9/2 – Wes Newton
9/2 - Draw
2/5 – Phil Taylor
Coral are the official betting partner of the McCoy's Premier League Darts. All odds correct at 10am March 19 and courtesy of www.coral.co.uk.