WES NEWTON and Kevin McDine will travel to Las Vegas hoping to secure their stanjames.com World Matchplay spots next Tuesday.
The duo currently occupy the final two places in the 16 qualifying spots for July's World Matchplay at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.
The world's top 16 players will be joined by the best 16 from the Players Championship Order of Merit, comprised of prize money won in Players Championships held in 2009.
With only next Tuesday's Las Vegas Players Championship remaining before the field for Blackpool is decided, Fleetwood-based Newton and Irthlingborough's McDine sit on £4,800 in the final two places.
That is £400 ahead of Steve Hine and Jan van der Rassel and £500 in front of Matt Clark - a quarter-finalist in the 2008 World Matchplay.
That trio, along with former world number one Peter Manley, would effectively need to reach at least the quarter-finals of the Las Vegas Players Championship to leap into a qualifying place.
"I missed out on the World Matchplay last year so it's been a big goal of mine all year to qualify," said Newton.
"It's like my World Championship. It's obviously local for me and the Winter Gardens is my favourite venue.
"Playing there twice has been great for me but I drew Phil Taylor one year and then John Part the other time, after playing him in the Las Vegas Desert Classic semi-finals a couple of weeks earlier.
"I wouldn't mind who I draw this time, though, as long as I qualify!"
Newton's visit to Las Vegas will also see him attempting to qualify for the televised stages of the Desert Classic.
He has twice reached the semi-finals of that event, his best displays so far in major tournaments, and added: "I love going to Las Vegas.
"It's been really good for me in the past and hopefully I'll do well this time too.
"There's two days of qualifying on Sunday and Monday and then the Players Championship on Tuesday, and I'm really looking forward to it."
Tickets for the stanjames.com World Matchplay are still available from the Winter Gardens Box Office or by calling Ticketmaster on 0844 856 1111.
The provisional 32 qualifiers for the stanjames.com World Matchplay are:
PDC Top 16 (confirmed after Las Vegas Desert Classic):
Phil Taylor, James Wade, Raymond van Barneveld, John Part, Terry Jenkins, Mervyn King, Adrian Lewis, Alan Tabern, Ronnie Baxter, Colin Lloyd, Colin Osborne, Dennis Priestley, Wayne Mardle, Mark Walsh, Andy Hamilton, Kevin Painter.
Top 16 non-qualified players from Players Championship Order of Merit:
Gary Anderson, Robert Thornton, Andy Smith, Wayne Jones, Michael van Gerwen, Mark Dudbridge, Steve Beaton, Vincent van der Voort, Jamie Caven, Denis Ovens, Jelle Klaasen, Tony Eccles, Co Stompe, Andy Jenkins, Wes Newton, Kevin McDine.