ADRIAN LEWIS admits a fast start is vital if he is to defeat Phil Taylor in the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts on Thursday.
Lewis is aiming to collect his first televised win over the 15-time World Champion when the pair clash at the NIA in Birmingham.
While he was defeated 5-0 in sets in the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship in their last meeting, Lewis feels the shorter, best-of-14 leg, format in the Premier League could suit him - especially if he makes his now-trademark explosive start.
"If I start well I'll put him under bags of pressure," Lewis added. "He's top of the league and has nothing to worry about, so he'll be out there playing his game.
"It's up to me now to go up there and show him who I am, and that's what I'm going to do. I think he's going to have a shock on Thursday.
"I'm more experienced now, I've got a couple more tournament victories under my belt and I think I can go up there and throw good darts."
Taylor acted as both a mentor and practice partner to Lewis after he broke through in 2004, and the youngster is expecting the world number one to play plenty of mind games in Birmingham!
"You think he's good on TV but you've not seen anything like him when he's practising with you," said Lewis.
"He knocks in several nine-darters a week and you think 'Jesus!'. You hit the odd one against him and he laughs at you because you've only hit one or two!
"He uses little tricks all the time but you've got to cope with it, and I love that banter. It makes me more fired up to play him - he gives me the ammunition and I'll fire the bullets!
"He isn't the 15-time World Champion for just throwing darts, he knows every trick in the book, but it doesn't matter if he tries to slow me down, I will be able to handle it."
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"I'm probably one of the proudest men when Adrian does well and if he beats me I won't be happy but I'll be proud of him," Phil Taylor |
"I'm really, really looking forward to that one," said Taylor. "He's a very good player and if you catch him on the right day he can beat anybody, as we all can.
"If you're not on song in this tournament you will get beaten by anybody, but I'm not worried about Adrian - I'm excited!
"I'm probably one of the proudest men when Adrian does well and if he beats me I won't be happy but I'll be proud of him."
Tickets for the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts at the NIA in Birmingham on Thursday are still available, priced at £20 and on sale on 0844 338 8000 or from www.theticketfactory.com.
Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts
Week Seven - NIA, Birmingham
Mervyn King v Simon Whitlock
James Wade v Terry Jenkins
Raymond van Barneveld v Ronnie Baxter
Adrian Lewis v Phil Taylor
Tickets: 0844 338 8000 or www.theticketfactory.com
Watch Live!
Coverage of the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts is live on Sky Sports HD
Fans outside of the UK and Ireland can watch live in PDCtv - click here for information