Barney: I've Not Been My Best

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD is looking to return to his best form during the final weeks of the Holsten Premier League Darts.

The Dutchman has won just one of his last four matches in the tournament, and sits in fourth place in the table after ten matches.

Whilst a place in the play-offs is probable - he is three points clear of Manley with four games remaining - van Barneveld admits he has to improve his form to stand a chance of lifting the title in May.

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"I've not been in the best form of my life during the Premier League," he said.

"I've played some Pro Tour events and won in Newcastle, Gibraltar and Germany, and the Masters of Darts too, so that is okay, but for the last six weeks in the Premier League I've only got two wins.

"That's a disaster for me but I'm still fourth. My goal is to reach the top four, if I have to meet Phil Taylor in the semi-finals I don't care.

"Against anybody it would be a tough game because they are brilliant players.

"I'm working very hard to prepare for Cardiff this week and hopefully it will come good against Terry Jenkins this week."

The pair shared a classic draw when they previously met in Newcastle, but van Barneveld admits that he could struggle to match the form which saw him average over 107 in that game.

He has embarked on a new fitness regime and a diet in a bid to improve his stamina and condition, mirroring Phil Taylor's quest after losing his World Championship title to van Barneveld in January.

"I can't find the concentration or focus every week," he revealed.

"I am tired but I've been on a new diet, low on carbohydrates, and I feel a bit different and I'm getting fitter.

"It's the same problem Phil had earlier this year, your body is changing. My aim is to get back to 100 kilos.

"Phil wants his title back and he is doing everything for that, and I can't drop behind.

"I've bought a treadmill and home trainer and am training for an hour each day.

"The month of April is going to be very important for me so I have to do this for myself.

"It's always going to be hard because these players are after the scalp of the World Champion.

"That's why I admire Phil so much because he has handled it so well for so many years."

Taylor will face Peter Manley in Cardiff and knows that he can extend his amazing unbeaten record in the tournament's history to 38 matches.

A win for Manley would keep alive his play-off hopes, with two other basement challengers - Roland Scholten and Colin Lloyd - also coming head-to-head at the 3,500-capacity CIA in their bids to keep up a top-four challenge.

The night's other game sees second placed Dennis Priestley meet Adrian Lewis, who ended a five-game losing run by defeating Lloyd last Thursday.

Holsten Premier League Darts
Week Eleven - 12 April, 7.30pm
CIA, Cardiff

Roland Scholten v Colin Lloyd
Dennis Priestley v Adrian Lewis
Phil Taylor v Peter Manley
Raymond van Barneveld v Terry Jenkins