MERVYN KING admits he intended to play a part in James Wade's Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts revival.
King inflicted a heavy 8-1 on Wade in Edinburgh on the second week of this year's Premier League - leaving the world number two bottom of the table.
Wade is since unbeaten, having won five successive games to move top of the table before drawing with John Part in Birmingham last week.
The duo meet in a top-of-the-table battle at Glasgow's SECC this Thursday, with King knowing he is now taking on a different Wade.
"James said to me that defeat hurt him, and it was meant to," said King.
"Someone needed to kick him up the backside because he hadn't been playing like he could do, and since then he's been playing 'proper darts' again.
"If I can get a draw against him I'll be happy, and if I get the win I'll be ecstatic because it's going to be a really hard game.
"I'm looking forward to it, and as long as I turn up and play properly it will be a fantastic game for the fans and TV viewers."
Wade saw his winning run ended with a stalemate against Part last week, with neither player able to force a break of throw during a tight contest.
Wade slipped to second in the league behind Phil Taylor on leg difference on the night, and admitted he was frustrated with his display.
"I was a perfect game for me to show how I can play," said Wade. "There was enough pressure there and the right situation and I was lucky to get away with a point.
"I didn't deserve to win and feel I only had four or five good legs. John was the better player and I have to be better against Mervyn.
"He deserved to beat me 8-1 last time we played but I want to show everyone that I'm better than that on Thursday."
King himself suffered somewhat of a dip in form after winning his first four matches, with a draw followed by two defeats.
But he bounced back to winning ways with an 8-2 victory over Wayne Mardle in Birmingham last week.
"The longer the game went on against Wayne, the more comfortable I became and the easier the game became," said King.
"The more chances Wayne gave me, the easier they were to take. In the previous two weeks it had nearly been there but didn't happen for me.
"I couldn't do anything about a 106 average from Raymond van Barneveld, the way he played was absolutely fantastic and I couldn't get near him with a 100 average. That shows his class.
"At 4-2 up against Terry Jenkins I definitely should have got a draw out of that, if not a win, and I've only got myself to blame, so it was nice to get back to winning ways last week."
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Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts
Week Nine - SECC, Glasgow
Raymond van Barneveld v John Part
Terry Jenkins v Wayne Mardle
Jelle Klaasen v Phil Taylor
Mervyn King v James Wade
Live on Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports HD1 from 7pm
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