RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD is bidding for a Reebok Stadium hat-trick when the Blue Square UK Open begins on Thursday.
The Dutchman has won the Bolton title for the past two years since his move to the PDC in 2006, defeating Barrie Bates and Vincent van der Voort in the final of the tournament - which is dubbed the "FA Cup of Darts".
A free draw for each round means top players such as van Barneveld and Taylor can draw each other at any stage, with the leading stars coming in at the third round stage on Friday.
Thursday's opening night features two-time World Champion Dennis Priestley, Wayne Mardle and the 32 Holsten Qualifiers, who came through knockouts held around the UK for amateurs and include World Ladies Champion Anastasia Dobromyslova and former BDO world number one Robert Thornton.
"I like the format of the tournament," said van Barneveld. "In every round there's a new draw and there's always tension, it's good for TV and you can draw anyone at any time.
"In the last two years I've draw Phil in the quarter-finals and I could maybe make it three in a row!
"Last year, he beat me three times in a row during May last year and I had two weeks off before the UK Open, and beat Phil 11-4!
"It doesn't make sense but sometimes the game is like that, it's a different game every time you play.
"It's not been my year so far but I'm good enough to come back to form. I like Bolton, I like the UK Open and I hope I'm going to make it a hat-trick."
Van Barneveld was a semi-final loser in the Whyte & Mackay Premier League recently, and his preparations for the UK Open have been disrupted by a bout of 'flu.
"I was really tired and still am and it had a big impact on me," he admitted. "I have been exhausted after practice this week but I'll be ready for Bolton.
"I've been successful in the tournaments with smaller crowds; I won the World Championship at the Circus Tavern, twice at Bolton, and in the Las Vegas Desert Classic.
In smaller venues it looks like I play my best and I find it harder to focus in bigger venues."
Taylor has also claimed the UK Open title twice in the last five years, and hit a third Bolton nine-darter in the 2007 tournament.
He hit a record average of 112.68 against Adrian Lewis on his way to the Premier League title on Bank Holiday Monday, and is currently the 4/6 favourite to take the Blue Square UK Open title on Sunday evening.
"It's a fantastic tournament," said Taylor. "It's the FA Cup of Darts and to be honest, the harder the draw for me early on, the better.
"I'm really happy with how I'm playing at the moment and I want to get better. I'm after everything now, I'm really determined to win every title I can and this is the next challenge."
The highlight of the first round matches sees female Russian star Dobromyslova, 23, take on Scotland's Robert Thornton, the former BDO world number one and current World Masters champion who joined the PDC circuit recently.
Dobromyslova, whose fiance Tony Martin competed in the 2007 UK Open, has been practising with Taylor ahead of her challenge in Bolton as she prepares to emulate Crissy Howatt - the wife of Peter Manley - and Deta Hedman in taking on the leading men in the sport in Bolton.
"I'm looking forward to the challenge," she said. "Practising with Phil has been great experience and it can only benefit my game.
"I was more nervous in the qualifiers and it's more excitement now about proving to a wider audience how I can perform.
"It's great to be able to play on TV so soon after winning the World Championship and I'll be proud to represent the women's game at the highest level.
"I've had a busy couple of weeks with all the publicity but I've been practising hard this week concentrating on the event."
The first round also sees double World Champion Dennis Priestley take on debutant Danny King, while two veterans of the professional game, former World Champion Richie Burnett and Scottish legend Jamie Harvey, also go head-to-head.
Thursday's second round games will include World Championship semi-finalists Wayne Mardle and Kevin Painter taking on Gary Welding and Tony Eccles respectively, and another former World Champion Steve Beaton facing Matt Clark.
World number five Terry Jenkins will face the winner of the first round clash between Joey Palfreyman and Mel Davies, one of the 32 Holsten Qualifiers.
Kirk Shepherd, the 21-year-old who reached the final of the World Championship on New Year's Day, will begin his challenge against Holland's Jan van der Rassel, while Priestley could face top Irishman Mick McGowan if he overcomes King.
Click here for the Blue Square UK Open NetZone
Click here for Rod Harrington's Blue Square UK Open Preview
Tickets
Tickets are still available for all sessions the Blue Square UK Open except for Saturday's afternoon session.
Tickets can be purchased on 0871 871 2932 or through ticketsales@bwfc.co.uk.
Tickets can also be purchased on the day of each session, with the BWFC Ticket & Membership Office (located next to the main reception at the Reebok Stadium) open from one hour before the start of each session until half an hour into each session.