ADRIAN LEWIS has revealed how a darting mishap has hampered his Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts play-off challenge.
The Stoke ace sits two points adrift of the play-off places as the battle for spots at the Wembley Arena on May 23 reaches the last fortnight.
Lewis is a point adrift of James Wade, Ronnie Baxter and Simon Whitlock after drawing with the Australian in Aberdeen last Thursday.
He faces Baxter and then Phil Taylor - the unbeaten league leader - in his last two matches, but feels he is returning to his best.
Lewis had lost his previous two matches, to Terry Jenkins and Mervyn King, but revealed that he had to abandon his regular 21 gram dart after the point snapped off.
"My point snapped when one fell out of the board and I had to use heavier darts for a couple of weeks, and my darts were dropping lower," he said.
"I didn't have any 21 gram darts at home but now I've got a set which are a replica of the other ones.
"I'm confident again with the darts and I think I can beat both Ronnie and Phil. There's no reason why I can't qualify - but I've got to win both games."
Lewis was forced to earn a point the hard way in Aberdeen, winning the final three legs to come from 7-4 down to draw with Whitlock.
"Early on I missed a few doubles and let him have shots, which he took out," he said. "I kept plodding on, hit the scores and put him under pressure.
"If I was 7-4 up against him there was no way I'd have lost that match, but he didn't capitalise and I did, and I was happy with the draw in the end."
Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts
Week 13 - Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle
Adrian Lewis v Ronnie Baxter
Mervyn King v Raymond van Barneveld
James Wade v Simon Whitlock
Terry Jenkins v Phil Taylor
Sky Bet Odds
Adrian Lewis 5/6, Draw 7/2, Ronnie Baxter 15/8
Mervyn King 6/5, Draw 7/2, Raymond van Barneveld 11/8
James Wade 6/5, Draw 7/2, Simon Whitlock 11/8
Terry Jenkins 12/1, Draw 7/1, Phil Taylor 1/8
Sky Bet are the official bookmakers of the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts. Odds correct at 11.30am Tuesday May 4.