RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD is confident he can get his Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts challenge back on track when he faces Phil Taylor in Liverpool.
Van Barneveld went down 8-6 to Peter Manley in Aberdeen last week, his second loss in three matches and a result which saw him slip to third in the league table.
The Dutchman has been at the head of the standings for much of this year, and believes another meeting with his great rival Taylor - who is unbeaten in his last six Premier League games - will help him return to top form.
"I am confident about how I'm playing in practice, but sometimes you can't explain why you don't produce that on stage," said van Barneveld.
"We try to analyse this, but the answer is not that easy. I have to forget last week and totally focus now on this match because it is always a big challenge to play Phil.
"Maybe it will help me to bring back my usual performance, but it's clear that at the moment Phil is in an unbelievably good shape."
Van Barneveld admits he is excited about playing in front of a record PDC crowd of almost 8,000 fans at the Liverpool Echo Arena.
"It is always very exciting to play the best players of the world and being a part of this tournament, and of course it's very special every time I play Phil.
"But this will be extra special in Liverpool in front of nearly 8,000 spectators.
"It's amazing to see so many people coming for four games of darts! Alongside the players, this is also a great compliment for the hard work of the PDC and Sky Sports."
Click here to read Rod Harrington's Liverpool Preview
Click here to purchase the official 2008 Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts programme
Watch the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts from the Liverpool Echo Arena, live on Sky Sports One from 7.30pm on Thursday.
Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts
Night 11, Liverpool Echo Arena
James Wade v Wayne Mardle
John Part v Adrian Lewis
Peter Manley v Terry Jenkins
Phil Taylor v Raymond van Barneveld
Live on Sky Sports One, 7.30pm