ADRIAN LEWIS has not given up his hopes on a top four finish in the Holsten Premier League Darts - but admits fifth is a more realistic ambition.
The 22-year-old ended a five-game losing run with an 8-5 victory over Colin Lloyd in Bournemouth last Thursday - averaging 100 and hitting three ton-plus finishes in a fine display.
With four matches remaining, he now sits just five points behind fourth-placed Raymond van Barneveld and six behind Terry Jenkins.
While he admits a place in the play-offs is now an improbable prospect, he is determined to finish his debut Premier League campaign with a flourish.
Click here to see match highlights in DartsTV
Click here for a Photo Gallery
Click here for a Blue Square Betting Preview
"My aim now is to finish fifth," said Lewis. "It's in the other players' hands if I finish fourth or not.
"I won't give in but all I can do now is win every match and that would keep the pressure on Raymond and Terry Jenkins.
"I play Terry last and he could be thinking about that then if there's pressure."
Lewis had slumped to the foot of the Premier League table following his run of defeats, but was delighted to see his hard work with new practice partner Colin Osborne pay off.
"I went to Bournemouth with the attitude of just enjoying myself and I got on with it,"
"I've been playing well in practice for a few weeks and I just wanted to win. I did quite well and always had him under pressure.
"My problem has been that I was outscoring payers and not finishing them off by hitting the doubles.
"If I keep practising on the doubles my old game will come together and I will be hard to beat in the future.
"I've put a lot of work in, I've been practising with Colin Osborne and we've been doing a lot of finishing, which probably showed on Thursday.
"He's my new practice partner and I think we can help each other a lot. I can show him a few routines I used to do with Phil and he has his own things too."
Lewis will face second-placed Dennis Priestley at the CIA in Cardiff this Thursday when the Holsten Premier League Darts heads to Wales.
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