DARYL GURNEY is setting his sights on securing a place in the Unibet Premier League Play-Offs next month as the race for a top-four finish intensifies.
Northern Irish ace Gurney is one of four players locked on 12 points in the league table in the positions from third to sixth behind top two Rob Cross and Michael van Gerwen.
Gurney will face one of those rivals for a Play-Off place, Mensur Suljovic, at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff on Thursday as the battle for top four places continues.
James Wade and Gerwyn Price are also locked on 12 points with five matches remaining before the top four progress to the semi-finals.
Having drawn with Wade in Liverpool last Thursday, Gurney is aiming to claim both points when he comes up against Suljovic to continue his progress in the event.
"If I can beat him then it will keep me in the hunt for the top four and that's what I want," said Gurney. "I want to be in The O2 at the end of this - I don't want to be finishing fifth again!
"Fifth is not bad playing against the top nine players in the world, but realistically I would love to be going to The O2.
"Hopefully I will get a result which keeps me in the hunt."
Gurney's draw with Wade saw him bounce back from a loss to Cross in Belfast, and despite having claimed two TV titles and briefly reached third in the world rankings, the 33-year-old is remaining grounded.
"I still feel like I'm the same player I was when I joined the PDC, trying to make a name for myself, improve myself and beat the best players in the world," he added.
"I walk into the Premier League [venues and] I still feel it's surreal and I've never thought of myself as one of the best players in the world.
"If I could actually put that aside I'd be a far better player but I probably give these players too much respect and that's where it comes back to hurt me."
2019 Unibet Premier League
Night 12 - Thursday April 18
Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff
Mensur Suljovic v Daryl Gurney
Rob Cross v Michael van Gerwen
Michael Smith v Gerwyn Price
Peter Wright v James Wade
Tickets: 029 2022 4488 or motorpointarenacardiff.co.uk