TAYLOR OUT FOR REVENGE!

PHIL TAYLOR is bidding for revenge in the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts when he faces James Wade at the Brighton Centre on Thursday.

Taylor saw his 44-game, three year unbeaten run in the Premier League shattered by an 8-6 loss to Wade in the opening week of this year's tournament at the end of January.

Taylor went on to lose two more of his opening four games, but has been in imperious form over the past three weeks.

An 8-0 whitewash of Wayne Mardle has been followed by 8-3 defeats of world number one Raymond van Barneveld and World Champion John Part – including averages of 111 and 107.

"I'm feeling really good at the moment," said Taylor. "I've had some great results in the last few weeks and my game is getting back to where I want it to be.

"James will be playing a different Phil Taylor this week and he'll have to play better if he wants to take any more points from me.

"He's done very well so far and he has been very consistent, but I'm really determined to kick on in the second half of the league."

The night also sees a top-versus-bottom encounter when Raymond van Barneveld faces Wayne Mardle - who is in buoyant mood after picking up his first win of the campaign last week.

The Essex thrower came from 4-2 down to defeat Terry Jenkins in Sheffield, and admitted: "I've not put doubles away and last week I did that.

"I was a confidence boost but if I beat Raymond then it will make people take notice and I'll have a great chance of qualifying for the play-offs."

The night opens when Jenkins and Adrian Lewis, both losers last week, look to get back to winning ways, while John Part and Peter Manley also clash in Brighton.

Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts

Terry Jenkins v Adrian Lewis

Wayne Mardle v Raymond van Barneveld

John Part v Peter Manley

James Wade v Phil Taylor
Live on Sky Sports 3 from 7.30pm