Raymond van Barneveld will take on Jim Williams at the Paddy Power World Darts Championship this afternoon, as he aims to progress to the fourth round at Alexandra Palace for the first time in six years.
The Dutch legend has already seen former World Champions Peter Wright and Gerwyn Price depart in his quarter of the draw, although 16-year-old sensation Luke Littler and two-time winner Gary Anderson are still present.
The five-time World Champion produced an impressive display in sweeping aside Players Championship title winner Radek Szaganski in his opener, averaging 99.81 in a convincing 3-1 victory.
“I was really satisfied [with the performance]," reflected Van Barneveld, who landed 19 140s and pinned 55% of his attempts at double.
"I knew Radek; I followed him on the last couple of ProTours, and he won a ProTour about six weeks ago, so I was warned!"
Van Barneveld hasn't progressed beyond the third round of the sport's flagship event since 2018, and despite the string of high-profile casualties, he remains wary of the dangerous players that still remain.
“Sure, there’s an opportunity [to have a deep run], but there’s also a 16-year-old kid [Luke Littler] who’s coming around and he’s playing awesome darts," said Van Barneveld, who heaped praise on the teenage sensation.
"I was sitting in a restaurant, and I was watching his first round game and thinking ‘Wow!, this guy’s unstoppable'. [He] looks like a really young Michael van Gerwen.
“If I want to watch darts then I want to see a guy like him; I like fast, I like fluency, I like finishing, and I like big celebrations.
"He’s a character, he’s the World Youth Champion and I’ve got great respect for him.
“But hey, I’m still there. I’m a troublemaker, trust me. If I do well and if I can play a really good game, then I’m tough to beat.”
The man from the Netherlands will set up a generational clash with Littler if he can overcome Welshman Williams, who dispatched two-time winner Wright in straight sets to book his place in round three.
Williams also dumped out ten-time TV title winner James Wade at last year's World Championship, but after a difficult year in televised events, Van Barneveld is hoping to return to winning ways on the biggest stage.
“I feel really great. I believe in myself again and I feel better than ever," added Van Barneveld, making his 31st World Championship appearance this year.
"I know with this current set-up I can do great things; good averages, doubles – if you believe in things then you can achieve everything.
“I believe in that [I can win a sixth World Championship], only I’m not going to say it. I will take it one game at a time.
“This is the tournament every single darts player wants to win and I’m lucky to have won it five times, although it feels weird that I have never held the Sid Waddell Trophy."
Nevertheless, Van Barneveld faces a tough assignment against Williams, who has relinquished just four legs in his opening two matches.
The former Lakeside runner-up swept aside Guyana's Norman Madhoo in nine straight legs before punishing a below-par display from Wright, although 'The Quiff insists there is still more to come.
"I played a guy who I didn't know much about, and then someone in Peter who was struggling, so it's been two mentally tough games for me so far," admitted the 39-year-old.
“I’ve been quite a bit below my average for the year, so I’ve got a couple of gears left.”
2023/24 Paddy Power World Darts Championship
Friday December 29
Afternoon Session (1230 GMT)
Damon Heta v Berry van Peer (R3)
Jonny Clayton v Krzysztof Ratajski (R3)
Jim Williams v Raymond van Barneveld (R3)