RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD insists he had no reason to panic despite slipping to the bottom of the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts table.
The Dutchman found himself in an unfamiliar position when he sat below Jelle Klaasen on leg difference at the foot of the table after three games.
He had lost to Phil Taylor in Liverpool on the opening night of the tournament, drawn with John Part and then saw James Wade overturn a 4-1 deficit to win their clash in Coventry.
However, an 8-6 win against Terry Jenkins in Belfast last week saw van Barneveld move back up the league table with his first win of the year - and he was happy that another good performance was rewarded with a win.
"I played the [other players in the world's] top four in the world in the first three weeks, firstly Phil Taylor, then John Part and then James Wade," said van Barneveld.
"You can win, lose or draw against them and then I had Terry, who's a wonderful player and every time he plays me he has a high average and hits his doubles.
"I'm glad I won that but I played six matches in the World Championship, three in the Players Championship and four in the Premier League and I've averaged around 100 every time.
"I had my chances against James with some missed doubles, but the standard is so extreme now that you have to hit your doubles or you're gone!"
Van Barneveld meets Wayne Mardle in Newcastle this Thursday, with the Essex showman having lost 8-1 to John Part in Belfast.
"I don't think about what he did last week," said van Barneveld. "When I played James Wade he'd lost 8-1 to Mervyn King the week before.
"Wayne is a class player and I know what he can do. He beat me in the World Matchplay and in the Premier League as well last year.
"At the end of the day it's 0-0 this week and I need to pick up a couple of points in the next few weeks.
"But I'm getting there; I'm doing fitness work every day, working hard and I showed last week what I can do."
Tickets are still available for the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts at the Metro Radio Arena on 0844 493 6666.
Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts
Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle
Jelle Klaasen v James Wade
Phil Taylor v Mervyn King
Wayne Mardle v Raymond van Barneveld
John Part v Terry Jenkins
Live on Sky Sports and Sky Sports HD from 7pm
Listen to live audio commentary and see match highlights in PDCtv
Click here to purchase the official Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts Programme