DUO BATTLE FOR TOP SPOT IN BETWAY PREMIER LEAGUE SEASON FINALE
THE line-up for the Betway Premier League Play-Offs will be finalised on Thursday following the final league night in Brighton, which sees Michael van Gerwen and Dave Chisnall do battle to finish top of the final league table.
The return to The Brighton Centre sees the eight stars competing in the 15th, and final, league night of the 2015 season - which has taken them across the UK and Ireland since the start of February.
While van Gerwen, Chisnall, World Champion Gary Anderson and reigning Betway Premier League champion Raymond van Barneveld have all secured places in next week's Play-Offs, final positions within the top four are up for grabs in Brighton.
Dutch star van Gerwen is bidding to finish at the top of the final league table for a third successive season, and sits one point clear of Chisnall ahead of their meeting on Thursday.
The pair have been the season's stand-out performers, with van Gerwen suffering only his third defeat when he was edged out a week ago by Adrian Lewis in Newcastle.
"It's a really big game and I can't wait," said the Dutchman. "It would mean a lot to me to finish top for a third straight year and that's what I'm aiming for but I know how tough it will be.
"Dave's had a great season and played really well, so I've got to make sure that I prepare myself right and don't make any mistakes on the night.
"To finish top would say that I've been the best player over the season, but I still have to make sure that I perform well in the Play-Offs to win the title so I want to win against Dave to make sure I go into the semi-finals in top form."
Chisnall has reached the semi-finals in only his second season in the Betway Premier League - and the Merseyside ace is bidding to crown a fine campaign by edging van Gerwen to top the league table.
"It's going to be a fun night on Thursday," said Chisnall. "I've played well this year and I've tried to keep up with Michael as much as possible - he's one game ahead, probably because he beat me.
"I'm looking forward to playing him and though the pressure if off you still want to win to keep your form going into the Play-Offs.
"I think I can win this and a lot of people are saying that I'm playing well enough to win, but it's not about what they say but what I do, and I'm over the moon with how I'm playing."
Anderson and van Barneveld are also jostling for third and fourth positions going into the Play-Offs, with the World Champion up against Lewis on Thursday and the Premier League champion taking on Stephen Bunting.
Scottish ace Anderson sealed his top-four place with a narrow win over Phil Taylor in Newcastle, and ends the regular season with a repeat of the 2011 Premier League final against Lewis.
"It's an important game and I want to get a good result going into the Play-Offs," said Anderson. "Although I won last week against Phil, I wasn't at my best.
"My doubles were fine but I had some good scoring and some bad scoring - if you can put the two together then nobody can stop me, but it's getting the two of them put together.
"Thursday's a chance to do that and I'll have to play well because everyone knows what Adrian's capable of doing on the dartboard."
Lewis, though, was at his brilliant best as he overcame van Gerwen a week ago, and the Stoke ace is bidding to end the season with another victory to boost his confidence.
"There are more major tournaments coming up and I want to take the form I showed last week into the rest of the year," said the world number four.
"I've had a couple of good performances but not enough so I want to play well in my final match and kick on from here."
Reigning champion Van Barneveld, meanwhile, drew with James Wade last week as he secured his place in the top four, and is aiming to continue his title defence with an eighth victory of the season.
"A lot can still change and it should be exciting," said van Barneveld. "If Dave beats Michael he becomes top, and things can change between myself and Gary too.
"I can't relax because I know that Stephen's a great player - he was the Lakeside Champion - and it's always a tough game in the Premier League. You want to perform well, not just for yourself but also for the crowd too."
The night's other game sees six-time Premier League champion Phil Taylor take on 2009 winner James Wade, with both now unable to make the Play-Offs - although with prize money based on finishing positions in the final table the pair are bidding to sign off with a victory.
Betway Premier League
Night 15, Thursday May 14
The Brighton Centre
Phil Taylor v James Wade
Raymond van Barneveld v Stephen Bunting
Adrian Lewis v Gary Anderson
Michael van Gerwen v Dave Chisnall
Tickets: 0844 847 1515 or www.ticketmaster.co.uk
BETWAY MATCH ODDS
5/6 Phil Taylor
9/2 Draw
11/4 James Wade
5/6 Raymond van Barneveld
7/2 Draw
11/10 Stephen Bunting
13/8 Adrian Lewis
7/2 Draw
11/10 Gary Anderson
4/7 Michael van Gerwen
7/2 Draw
9/4 Dave Chisnall
BETWAY OUTRIGHT ODDS (before Week 15)
5/6 Michael van Gerwen
3/1 Gary Anderson
5/1 Raymond van Barneveld
11/2 Dave Chisnall
For other bets and special offers, visit www.betway.com . Odds above correct at time of writing and may be subject to change.