SID WADDELL is tipping debutant James Wade as a "dark horse" for the 2008 Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts.
The tournament kicks off at the SECC in Glasgow on Thursday night, with Wade facing defending Premier League champion Phil Taylor in his opening game.
The 24-year-old from Aldershot - who will unveil his new nickname in Glasgow - has risen to third in the world over the past year, thanks in part to victories in the Stan James World Matchplay and SkyBet World Grand Prix.
Waddell is backing the youngster to shine over the next three months and take the Premier League by storm.
"I like his attitude, he has incredible powers of concentration and I think he is a dark horse to take the title," Waddell told SkySports.com.
"He could even turn out to be the overall star of the season.
"I think James has the potential to be world champion, but unfortunately he didn't bring his game to Ally Pally last month.
"He is a phenomenal starter of a match [and] has already won in Gibraltar this year."
Wade opens his account against Taylor, who has never been defeated in 44 previous Premier League games over the past three years and returns to the oche in Glasgow following a month away from competitive action following his quarter-final loss to Wayne Mardle in the Ladbrokes.com PDC World Darts Championship.
"We have always seen Phil Taylor's fantastic qualities in the Premier League and he has set an incredible standard that the others are sometimes not able to match," continued Waddell."The question is can Taylor come out early doors with the same murderous attitude that he has had in previous years?
"Last year, people were talking about Taylor being on the wane, but his statistics were incredible.
"He warmed up with a couple of 95 averages in the first three weeks, but then he went mad and had nine wins with 100-plus averages.
"If he is at his best he takes you apart in the first few legs and some players can't get over that."
Waddell feels that World Champion John Part will also challenge strongly for a play-off place over the next 14 weeks, as he returns to the event he previously competed in three years ago.
"John is the best closer in the game," said Waddell.
"If the score is 7-6 - either to Part or against him - I would put my money on Part taking the last leg to secure the win or the draw, even against Barney or Taylor.
"He had a fairly modest season in 2005 but with the form he is in now, he will not finish sixth.
"He has more self-confidence than Barney or Taylor and he knows nerves will not effect his technique.
"He won't have the brilliant matches that we'll get from Taylor or Barney, but he is the most solid man in the field."
To read Sid Waddell's full analysis of all eight competitors, click here to visit SkySports.com.
2008 Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts
Night One, SECC, Glasgow
Raymond van Barneveld v Wayne Mardle
Adrian Lewis v Terry Jenkins
Peter Manley v John Part
Phil Taylor v James Wade
Live on Sky Sports One, 7.30pm (GMT)
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