COLIN LLOYD is in an upbeat mood as he prepares for the Keukenconcurrent Masters of Darts.
Lloyd suffered a second successive 8-6 loss in the Holsten Premier League Darts on Thursday night, with the defeat to Raymond van Barneveld leaving him at the bottom of the table.
For the second week running, Lloyd found himself 3-0 down before fighting back, but left himself too much to do in the final stages.
"It was a good booster for me," said a defiant Lloyd. "I've not been playing very well but I proved to people, and myself, that I've still got the game to do some damage.
"I'm going to be ready the next time I play Ray. In Wolverhampton I let him get a 3-0 lead and, though I came back to three-all, I came out a bit jittery.
"I've been like that two weeks on the spin now and I'm not going to do it any more.
"I know how good I am and I'm sick and tired of having to explain myself and what is going wrong with my game.
"There's nothing wrong with my game, I am a world class player and I've got to prove that."
Lloyd will team up with Phil Taylor, Wayne Mardle, Peter Manley and Mervyn King in the England team for the Masters of Darts in Hengelo.
He opens against Roland Scholten on Saturday evening, and will also face Dutch stars Jelle Klaasen, Michael van Gerwen, Vincent van der Voort and van Barneveld in the group stage, which runs from Saturday to Wednesday.
The top two players from each country will then face off next weekend in the semi-finals.
"I'm looking forward to it," said Lloyd. "I played there when they held the tournament two years ago and hopefully this will be as much fun.
"It's been built up as England versus Holland but I'm going to go out there and enjoy myself.
"There is being part of a team, but there is the mentality that you are there for yourself.
"I am there as a team player, and I've never had the opportunity to represent my country and wear an England shirt before.
"I've always wanted to do that and I'm going to do my bit, but there's also the individual prize at the end of it."
Lloyd will team up with King for the first time during the tournament, just days after the former World Masters champion decided to join the PDC.
"I'll give Mervyn the welcome I gave Raymond van Barneveld last year," added Lloyd.
"I've known him longer than I have Raymond, and they are both quality players.
"It's the same with Jelle Klaasen, Vincent van der Voort and Michael van Gerwen and they are professional darts players now plying their trade as professional darts players.
"They have come into the Professional Darts Corporation, who are forever moving the game forward, and they all want a piece of the action.
"Mervyn is a great darts player, he sees where the money is.
"I'll see him at the weekend, give him a big shake of his hand and welcome him.
"There is plenty of money up for grabs and it depends how much he wants it now - I want it too!"