"Phil is still the hardest test for me and it will be a tough game," said the Dutchman. "It's always a special occasion.

"People talk about him being out of form but there's nothing wrong with Phil. He changed his darts and he believes in them, but maybe players now see that he is beatable and that is fantastic for darts.

"I think it's great for everyone that it's a close competition this year.

"Last year, probably halfway through the Premier League the top four were almost decided but this year it's completely open.

"I've got eight points but that isn't enough and I know I have to perform every single week."

Van Barneveld's position at the top of the table could come under threat in Nottingham from James Wade, Terry Jenkins and Adrian Lewis.

Wade suffered his first defeat of the campaign when he went down 8-6 to van Barneveld last week, and takes on winless Wayne Mardle in the night's opening game.

Meanwhile, Jenkins and Lewis are both sat two points adrift of the Dutchman heading into the sixth week.

Lewis faces World Champion John Part, while Jenkins is seeking to follow up his wins over World Champions Taylor, van Barneveld and Part in the last three weeks with a victory over Peter Manley.

"My confidence is growing all the time," admitted Jenkins. "I struggled for two or three months but that's gone now.

"I think I'm learning all the time too. You can't get any more pressure than playing in front of these crowds in the Premier League and if you can blank that out you can cope with anything."

Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts

Night Six, Nottingham Arena

Wayne Mardle v James Wade

Adrian Lewis v John Part

Terry Jenkins v Peter Manley

Raymond van Barneveld v Phil Taylor