MICHAEL VAN GERWEN is seeking to avenge his group stage defeat to Jonny Clayton in their bwin Grand Slam of Darts quarter-final.
Reigning champion Van Gerwen saw his 22-match winning run in Wolverhampton ended by Clayton in a Grand Slam classic which saw, with the Welshman a 5-4 victory in one of the greatest games ever seen at the tournament.
The world number one was on course for a record-breaking average for much of the tie, but Clayton punished the Dutchman's three missed match darts to edge a classic contest.
Van Gerwen has since returned to winning ways with victories over Joe Murnan and Michael Smith, averaging 108.32 in the latter, and is now determined to overturn his loss to Clayton to reach the semi-finals.
I will have more than him
“We had a fantastic match in the group stage and I am expecting something similar tonight, apart from the result," said Van Gerwen, who is bidding for a record-breaking fourth successive Grand Slam title.
“I won’t underestimate Jonny at all because he is a phenomenal player but I think over this long format I will have more than him.
“I’m actually really looking forward to the match because I think we are two players who bring out the best in each other. I think everyone saw that in a group.
“But I think this is where the really top players have the advantage because usually in a longer format, the best player wins and although Jonny is very dangerous I expect myself to beat anybody over this format.”
Saturday night will also see Gary Anderson face German BDO qualifier Michael Unterbuchner in the other quarter-final.
The tournament will be broadcast live on Sky Sports and through the PDC's worldwide broadcast partners, as well as through PDCTV-HD for Rest of the World Subscribers.
2018 bwin Grand Slam of Darts
Friday November 16
Mensur Suljovic 16-9 Dimitri Van den Bergh
Gerwyn Price 16-15 Simon Whitlock
Saturday November 17 (1900 GMT)
Michael Unterbuchner v Gary Anderson
Jonny Clayton v Michael van Gerwen
Sunday November 18
Afternoon Session (1300 GMT)
Semi-Finals
Gerwyn Price v Mensur Suljovic
Clayton/Van Gerwen v Unterbuchner/Anderson
Evening Session (1930 GMT)
Final