MICK McGOWAN and Jacko Barry are set to do battle for the title of Ireland's number one darts player at the Skybet World Grand Prix next week.
The County Dublin-based duo were drawn together in the first round of the £350,000 tournament at the Citywest Hotel IECC.
They clash on Tuesday night in the best-of-three set contest, with McGowan hoping a victory can begin his rise back up the rankings.
The Balbriggan-based ace has slipped out of the world's top 32 in the last two years after losing his form and suffering health problems, and sits just two places above Stamullen's Barry in the PDC Order of Merit at 49th.
"It's been a horrible 18 months to be honest and this is a great chance for me to kick-start things," said McGowan.
"I've been putting a lot of work in and a lot of practice over the last six to eight weeks to get ready for this and I'm feeling really confident.
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"I'm probably looking forward to this more than I have any tournament in the last 18 months," Mick McGowan |
"I've been able to practice again properly and if I can put a run together then it should kick-start things for me again."
Barry turned professional after qualifying for the World Grand Prix two years ago, and still travels to events on the PDC circuit with McGowan.
"When I first joined the PDC, Mick took me under his wing and looked after me in the first couple of months until I knew what I was doing," said Barry, a 35-year-old lorry driver by trade.
"We still travel together when we go away to tournaments and I do find it a bit difficult to concentrate on what I'm doing when I play someone like Mick.
"For that half hour or so on Tuesday, though, the friendship will go out of the window!"
McGowan took victory in the duo's only previous televised meeting, at the 2008 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship, but insists: "I got the win last time but Tuesday is another night and I'm sure Jacko won't be thinking about that.
"I won't either, I will just prepare as normal and can't be complacent thinking that just because I beat him last time I'll do it again."
The World Grand Prix has moved into the brand new Citywest Hotel IECC arena this year, doubling the capacity to 3,000 fans - with both McGowan and Barry set to be supported by hundreds of fans.
"I suppose it's a new venue for everybody," said McGowan. "None of us have played in the arena before so nobody has any advantage over anyone else.
"From what I hear, it's a fabulous new arena and I'm really looking forward to it.
"There's one coach full coming to watch me at the moment and I think they're working on taking a second coach too.
"I know there will be quite a lot of people there so it should be a good day."
Northern Irish duo Brendan Dolan and John MaGowan are in action on Monday in the opening night of the event, but face tough tasks.
Dolan has drawn eight-time World Grand Prix winner Phil Taylor, the defending champion, while Donaghadee-based MaGowan takes on Scottish star Gary Anderson.
Tickets for the Skybet World Grand Prix are still available from the Citywest Hotel Box Office on 00353 1401 0505 or via darts09@citywesthotel.com.