'The Power' has won eight matches and already booked his place in the semi-finals of the McCoy's Premier League Darts, but will not be coasting to the finish line when he walks out to face Barney at the Motorpoint Arena.

The Steel City is fortunate to play host to Barney v Taylor with both men on form - as the big Dutchman is tied second in the league and hit his highest ever TV average last week (112.28) when beating Kevin Painter.

"Phil raised the bar and I'm very proud to have hit my highest average on TV last week," said van Barneveld. "It's a big achievement for me and I know now, with these darts, that in the future I can hit averages like this in every game.

"I'm hoping to play well against Phil. Everything has to be right when you play him and you do always get chances, but you always have to hit them because he never seems to miss."

Different enemy

Taylor always relishes facing Barney on the big stage, and is glad the two men who dominated darts a few years ago are not both seemingly back in good order thanks to the Dutchman's resurgence.

"It could be a classic," said Taylor, who has 12 straight victories in the Premier League against Barney. "Barney's a different enemy now - he's got his head back on right and he's playing like we know he can do.

"He was absolutely brilliant last week and I'm really looking forward to playing him. It's a game I'm always up for anyway, but this will be special because we're both in great form."

It will be a big night for Scotsman Gary Anderson in Sheffield as the reigning Premier League champion plays twice after missing the night in Cardiff due to the death of his father.

World champion Adrian Lewis played twice in the Welsh capital and now he has the night off as Anderson faces James Wade first up and returns to take on Andy Hamilton in the night's final encounter.

Big night

"I need to win at least one of the two games," said Anderson. "I've got a game in hand so if I win one game I'll be on eight points and if I can pinch another one I'll be on ten.

"Two or three wins in the next couple of weeks will put me back up the table, so if I can win the two games in Sheffield it will lift me - I'm not holding up the table yet!"

Simon is joint second in the standings alongside van Barneveld and he will go up against Painter in the night's other match with the Australia also in good touch after hammering Anderson 8-2 last week.

"You have to hit a 100 average to win these days - if you don't you're in trouble," said Whitlock. "Anything over 95 is good, but if you throw over 100 you'll win a lot of games.

"The way the McCoy's Premier League season is going at the moment it's going to be a very tight finish. The For and Against is important and as long as I'm in the top four I'll be very happy.

"My goal is to make the top four and then see where I can go from there, and I'm on course for that at the moment."