ROBERT THORNTON admits he will be one of the proudest players at the Rainton Meadows Arena this weekend when he represents Scotland in the Cash Converters World Cup of Darts.
The 43-year-old from Ayrshire will team up with Gary Anderson for the inaugural PDC World Cup, which will take place from Friday to Sunday at the Houghton-le-Spring venue.
Scotland are seeded fourth for the event, behind England, Holland and Australia, and will take on either Russia or Gibraltar when they enter the event in round two on Friday night.
For Thornton, he believes that the chance to play for his country will rank alongside his 2007 World Masters win or appearance in the 2008 Players Championship final against Phil Taylor as one of the proudest times of his career.
"It's an awesome feeling," said Thornton. "To represent your country in anything is one of the best things you can do and I'm really proud.
"I was fortunate enough to do it last year in the Jocky Wilson Cup against England and I get to do it again this year, and it's a brilliant honour.
"If Gary and myself had hit our doubles in the Jocky Wilson Cup it could have been a different story but Phil Taylor and James Wade were just too good for us.
"It was a bit of a disaster in the end to lose 5-0 but hopefully we can do better this time and maybe even win the World Cup.
"We know how each other players - we can both score heavily and as long as we hit our doubles we stand a good chance.
"England and Australia have to be the big favourites, because you've got Phil Taylor and James Wade in one team and Simon Whitlock and Paul Nicholson in another, but for Holland I think Raymond van Barneveld's been off the boil a bit and Co Stompe can be a bit in and out.
"There are teams from around the world with players who you don't see too often on TV, like the guys from New Zealand, and it's a massive opportunity for them.
"But it's a World Cup and you can't write anybody off."
Thornton dropped out of the world's top 16 earlier this year but has regained his form recently, with a strong showing in the Grand Slam of Darts last month followed by a run to the quarter-finals of a Players Championship in Derby on Saturday.
"I'm really looking forward to playing in the World Cup now," he added. "I'm starting to come into a bit of form at the moment now so hopefully we can be competitive.
"I've been hitting my doubles again and that's been the difference recently. I've knuckled down in the last few weeks, been practising a lot more and practising well and taken that into tournaments like the Grand Slam."
Thornton has also revealed the secret inspiration behind his recent revival - the encouragement and instruction he has received in practice from wife Christine!
"My wife's been a great help - she sits and shouts out finishes to me while I'm practising, which means I'm getting plenty of different checkouts and it's keeping me sharp on finishes and doubles," said Thornton.
"She's a massive supporter and I know she'll be proudly cheering me on at Rainton Meadows."
Tickets for the Cash Converters World Cup of Darts are still available on 0871 220 0260 or via www.seetickets.com/worldcupofdarts.
Admission to the opening session, to be held from 1pm-5pm on Friday afternoon, is FREE. Doors open at 12pm ahead of the start at 1pm.