JAMES WADE is looking to finish the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts campaign with a flourish.
The 25-year-old sits at the top of the league with three weeks remaining, having only lost twice so far in an impressive debut campaign.
An 8-5 comeback win over Wayne Mardle last week means that, bar an unlikely and dramatic collapse, he will be in the play-offs in Cardiff at the end of May.
However, Wade is determined to continue his good form when he faces Peter Manley at the Wembley Arena on Thursday and maintain his table-topping position.
"It's good being top but there are plenty of people behind me who are quite happy to step into my shoes!" said Wade.
"I've got to keep playing well, but the most important thing has been making sure I'm in the play-offs, and I'm pretty certain of that now."
Wade admitted that appearing in front of a record PDC crowd of 7,800 at the Liverpool Echo Arena affected him against Mardle, and contributed to his early 4-0 deficit.
"I was very nervous when I first walked out," he admitted. "It was daunting going out in front of such a massive crowd.
"I don't know why I was nervous though - it didn't appear to be any more than normal but because I knew it was it made a difference to me.
"It could have cost me the game, but I pulled myself together, took my chances and got the win."
Wade produced his highest in the Premier League with a crucial 161 during the win over Mardle - although he was denied the £1,000 Whyte & Mackay Bonus for the night's highest finish by a 170 from Adrian Lewis later.
"It was a good shot," he said. "I thought Wayne was on a finish, otherwise I wouldn't have gone for the bullseye, but I think it was a punch in the mouth for Wayne!
"I'd picked up the £1,000 in Aberdeen the previous week with a 121, but it's always disappointing to miss out on another bonus!
"It was a great shot from Adrian though, the first this year and sensational to do it under the pressure of 8,000 fans! Fair play to him, he deserved it."
Click here for Rod Harrington's Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts preview
Week 12 - April 17
Wembley Arena
Terry Jenkins v Wayne Mardle
Peter Manley v James Wade
Adrian Lewis v Raymond van Barneveld
John Part v Phil Taylor
Live on Sky Sports 2 from 7.30pm
Follow the action live in DartsTV, with Live Audio Commentary for subscribers and a Free Live Scoreboard, along with Highlights available from Friday evening
Click here to purchase the official 2008 Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts programme