STEPHEN BUNTING is preparing for one of the biggest nights of his career when he takes on Phil Taylor in the Betway Premier League in Liverpool on Thursday.
The St Helens ace will have the full backing of over 7,000 fans from Merseyside when he faces the sport's most successful player at the Echo arena.
Bunting, the former Lakeside Champion who moved onto the PDC circuit in 2014, defeated Taylor in last year's European Championship in their most recent meeting.
And the 29-year-old admitted that the chance to take on the Stoke legend in Liverpool is a fine opportunity to claim his maiden Premier League win.
"When the fixtures were announced, playing in Liverpool against Phil Taylor jumped out at me," said Bunting.
"The crowd is going to be buzzing, I'll have family and friends there and I can't wait to get up there against the best player who's ever walked on this planet.
"I'll try my best and it would be incredible to beat him. You know that Phil's a fighter and he's one of the best players in the world, if not the best, and I've just got to make sure that I produce my best on the night to get the victory.
"I know that I've got the game to beat any player, and it's about taking that onto stage. It's going to be a wonderful night."
Taylor overcame Bunting in the final of last year's Sydney Darts Masters but admitted: "I've been impressed with Stephen for the three or four years that I've known the lad.
"He's a lovely lad, he gets on with everyone and he gets on that practice board - you don't know that he's in the room, he's like the quiet assassin!
"He's like a ninja, because he's in the background but he can play - obviously he's been a World Champion and you've got to be on your game against him."
Stephen Bunting & Phil Taylor
Previous Meetings
2014 German Darts Masters Semi-Finals: Taylor 6-3 Bunting
2014 Sydney Darts Masters Final: Taylor 11-3 Bunting
2014 European Championship Second Round: Bunting 10-9 Taylor