RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD is hoping to use the inspiration of Holland's World Cup run to fire him to glory in the StanJames.com World Matchplay.
The Dutch ace, a five-time World Champion, travelled to South Africa to watch his fellow countrymen in action in football's World Cup recently - and was at the final in Johannesburg last Sunday when they went down 1-0 to Spain.
That holiday came as part of a two-month break from darts for van Barneveld since the end of the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts.
A quarter-final loser in his previous three World Matchplays, he is now looking to return to action refreshed in his bid to take the £100,000 title next Sunday.
"The break has been really good for me," said van Barneveld. "The time off was nice for me and I had a relaxing time watching the World Cup, first at home but then last week in Cape Town and at the final in Johannesburg.
"I've practiced a lot during my break and I'm full of confidence. I noticed too during the break that I missed the darts and I'm really looking forward to playing in the World Matchplay.
"I know Blackpool's football team play in orange, like Holland, and I've always had great support there, so I hope the Barney Army will be there to cheer me on!"
Van Barneveld takes on Denis Ovens on Saturday night in the first round of the £400,000 event, which is shown live on Sky Sports.
Ovens enters the tournament fresh from reaching the first televised semi-final of his career last month in the UK Open at Bolton - a tournament van Barneveld missed.
"I've known Denis for years and he is one of the most dangerous players in the floor tournaments but he is playing really well on TV now so I know what I'm going to face," said the Dutchman.
"I played him in my first ever game in the World Matchplay in 2007 and beat him but he's beaten me a couple of times too.
"He's a really good friend and that makes it hard, but he's very tough to beat too. In my opinion he's a top 16 player.
"He's not afraid of losing, he is a high scorer and a really strong finisher and has more self-confidence after reaching the semi-finals of the UK Open."
As well as battling against a player nicknamed 'The Heat', van Barneveld admits that handling the high temperatures on-stage during the summer is a challenge he has not overcome yet.
"The heat has been a problem for me in the last few years in Blackpool," he added. "It can get extremely hot on stage and it's not been my tournament yet.
"In the last three years, the players who've beaten my in the quarter-finals, Adrian Lewis, Wayne Mardle and Terry Jenkins, have been absolutely fantastic on those nights.
"But I'm feeling confident this year and, with the crowd behind me, I think I can reach the final for the first time and hopefully win the tournament."
While the Dutch star has not won a major now since 2007, he hit a nine-dart finish in April during the Premier League - his fourth on television, coming fourth months after a second perfect leg in the World Championship - to prove that he still has the arrows to match Phil Taylor.
"The nine-darters in the World Championship and Premier League were fantastic but it only means winning one leg," he said.
"In the Premier League final Phil hit two nine-darters against James Wade and the result was only 10-8, so it shows that concentration throughout the game is very important.
"Winning matches is more important than hitting a nine-darter but they're always very special and great memories for me."
The StanJames.com World Matchplay is being held from July 17-25 at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool. Limited tickets are still available on 0844 856 1111.