BRENDAN DOLAN has hailed his "brilliant" last 12 months, as he prepares to make his debut in The Unibet Masters against James Wade this weekend.
The Northern Irish number one reached his first major final at the World Grand Prix in 2011, but dropped out of the world's top 16 during last year and missed out on the inaugural staging of The Masters.
While his rivals at the top of the game were competing in Edinburgh 12 months ago, Dolan actually won his first-ever ranking event at a Players Championship in Wigan.
He has since won a further four titles on the PDC circuit to restore himself to the world's top 16, and is hoping to show his talents on the Scottish stage at the Royal Highland Centre on Saturday and Sunday.
"It's been a major turnaround for me in the last 12 months," smiles the 41-year-old. "It's an adrenaline rush to think that I'm one of the elite players in this event.
"I've had a great year, and to go from not being in The Masters and winning my first event to winning four more events since then and establishing myself back in the top 16 is brilliant.
"To be mixing with all these top-class players in such a big event is an honour. I've been doing it on the circuit for the last few years anyway, but when you pick out the top 16 players in the world and you're one of them, it's a joy and a thrill."
Dolan's meeting with Wade in Saturday's first round at the Royal Highland Centre will evoke memories of his famous World Grand Prix semi-final against the left-hander in 2011, when the Northern Irish ace hit the first-ever double-start nine-dart finish on his way to victory.
Wade matched that achievement in last month's World Grand Prix during a game in which he and Scotland's Robert Thornton hit perfect legs, and Dolan is wary of facing the in-form left-hander.
"The World Grand Prix win over James was brilliant for me, but every game's different and you can't take anything for granted," says Dolan. "I feel if my best game comes out, that I can do a number on James.
"It's going to be tough, but I know that on my day I can beat him, and I've done it in the past. I'm confident in my own ability and I know he's going to be good, but if I'm good I'll win.
"James is playing very well at the minute. He had a great run in the World Grand Prix and a good weekend in Crawley in the Players Championships recently, winning one event and being runner-up in the other, and he seems to have a lot more confidence."
Dolan also predicted that the recent nine-darters from Wade and Thornton - as well as Michael van Gerwen in last weekend's European Championship - could be followed by another perfect leg in Edinburgh.
"A nine-darter in the double-start format was unheard of before I did it three years ago," he reflects.
"You see people doing it week-in, week-out on the circuit now from one major to another - but for two double-start nine-darters to be hit in one game shows the class of every player now.
"You're not just expecting Phil Taylor or Michael van Gerwen to hit them now, any one of the players in an event can hit a nine-darter and it might well happen again in The Masters."
The Unibet Masters will see Dolan stepping out onto stage in Scotland for the first time in a major televised event, and he added:" I'm looking forward to it.
"The Scottish fans are very vocal, just like the Irish fans, and they get behind you. It was nice to avoid a Scottish player but I know they have their favourites, just like any crowd, and I think I'll get a good support up there."
Tickets for The Unibet Masters are still available and can be purchased from pdc.seetickets.com and by calling 0844 871 8807.
Tickets are also available through www.secc.co.uk and by calling 0844 481 8898.