THE 2007 Holsten Premier League Darts will reach a climax with the play-offs on Bank Holiday Monday - with Phil Taylor on course for a third successive title.
Taylor has won the tournament for the past two years and went through the 14-week league phase of the event unbeaten to top the table heading to the Brighton Centre.
The 13-time World Champion meets Dennis Priestley in the semi-finals on Monday, with the winner facing either Raymond van Barneveld or Terry Jenkins to claim the £75,000 winner's cheque.
"Winning another title would be very special," said Taylor. "This event has become massive now, the crowds have been huge and every week it's like playing a major final.
"At the start of the league this year I'd made a few changes and was still getting used to things, but I think I've got better as the league went on.
"I'm very happy with how things are going, my form's good and winning the US Open was brilliant last week.
"This is a fresh challenge and I know Dennis will be a tough opponent. He always is and he's a pleasure to play against.
"We've had many great battles over the years and I'm sure this will be a good game too."
Van Barneveld was defeated 4-1 by Taylor in last week's US Open final, and also lost the two meetings in the Premier League, but he insists he is not chasing revenge on Monday.
"Revenge is not the right word," said the 40-year-old. "He's the best player in the world so there's no need to get revenge - you just want to beat him.
"I was very disappointed in America because I'd played well and then had my worst game of the tournament in the final but I've been practising hard this week."
Van Barneveld was a surprise 11-3 loser to Roland Scholten in last year's semi-finals in Plymouth, and he admits: "That defeat hurt me a lot.
"I can't look too far ahead to the final because I have Terry and it's the winner of that who plays Phil or Dennis.
"I always seem to have good games with Terry and it's always a great standard. We both had averages over 100 in Newcastle in the league in February."
That game ended in a draw before van Barneveld won 8-5 when they met for a second time in the league in Cardiff last month.
Taylor's first meeting with Priestley, at Wolverhampton in week two, saw him win the last leg to grab a draw, but the Stoke superstar was back to his best with a 102 average in an 8-2 victory in Reading when they next clashed.
The semi-finals, starting at 6pm, will be played over the best of 21 legs, with the final being the best of 31 legs.
Taylor won 16-6 against Scholten in last year's final, having been a 16-4 winner against Colin Lloyd in the 2005 decider.
Each of the semi-finalists is now guaranteed a £30,000 pay-day, with the winner claiming £75,000 and the runner-up taking home £40,000.
Additionally, should Priestley reach the final, he would receive an invitation to compete in the PartyPoker.net Grand Slam of Darts in November. Taylor, van Barneveld and Jenkins have already qualified for the £300,000 tournament.
Sky Sports commentator Sid Waddell is tipping a Taylor-van Barneveld final, and said: "It could be one of the greatest matches ever.
"I think there will be a nine-darter during the final. Taylor has never been beaten in Premier League Darts and I can't see there being anyone else in the final but him and Barney.
"If both the semi-finals had been played in February, both Terry Jenkins and Dennis Priestley would have been in with a chance, but Taylor and Barney both came good at the end of February and are now at peak form."
Holsten Premier League Darts
Semi-Finals
Raymond van Barneveld v Terry Jenkins
Phil Taylor v Dennis Priestley
Best of 21 legs
Final
Best of 31 legs
Live on Sky Sports 1 from 6pm