Darts: Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts - Night Seven Preview

PHIL TAYLOR and John Part renew their long-standing rivalry when the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts visits the Brighton Centre on Thursday night.

The duo have enjoyed almost a decade of sparring at the top level of darts, including five major finals amongst their high-profile battles.

Taylor won four of those, although Part^s four televised victories against the Stoke star - including at the 2003 World Championship - is more than any other player apart from Raymond van Barneveld.

However, Taylor twice defeated Part 8-3 in the 2008 Premier League, and the Canadian knows he has to produce his best if he is to leap above the defending champion in the table.

"He seems to always give me his best," said Part. "It^s the last match of the first half of the league, and if you^re going to beat Phil now is a good time.

"If I^m going to try and move ahead of him I have to beat him and it would put me in a great position if I can."

Taylor ended a three-game run without a victory when he defeated Wayne Mardle 8-4 in Manchester, defying seven 180s to take the two points.

"It was a nice game last week but this will be different against John," said Taylor. "Wayne had a bit of fun and played well, he hit a lot of 180s but was a little bit erratic.

"John is very steady and very good at punishing your mistakes and taking his own chances. I^ve had a little break since last week and feel good, and I know I^ll have to perform better against John."

The league phase of the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts reaches the half-way stage with the four games in front of 3,500 fans in Brighton.

Joint league leader Mervyn King looks to bounce back from his first defeat of the season - suffered to Raymond van Barneveld with an 8-3 loss in Manchester last week - when he takes on Terry Jenkins in the night^s opening game.

James Wade, who has joined King on nine points at the head of the table with four straight wins, takes on Wayne Mardle in the night^s second game.

Raymond van Barneveld is looking to extend his unbeaten run to four matches when he takes on Jelle Klaasen in an all-Dutch clash.

"For the last three or four months I wasn^t myself but now I feel like I^m Barney again and doing very well," said the rejuvenated Dutchman.

"I lost a couple of games but I^m still averaging well. I^m happy and focused, pleased with how I^m playing."

Klaasen hit a 170 finish in coming from 5-1 down to grab a draw with John Part a week ago, picking up his first point since the opening night of the campaign in the process.

"Even though I^ve worked hard on my doubles I still missed a lot last week," said Klaasen. "I never gave up because I was only 5-1 down because I missed a lot of doubles.

"It could have been the other way round but I stuck in there and I think I deserved at least a point.

"Raymond^s playing well but again I have to score well and hit my doubles to have a chance. I^ll have to play well and they^re always good games with him."

Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts

Week Seven - Brighton Centre

Mervyn King v Terry Jenkins

Wayne Mardle v James Wade

Raymond van Barneveld v Jelle Klaasen

Phil Taylor v John Part

Live on Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports HD1 from 7pm

Boylesports.com Match Odds

Terry Jenkins 15/8, Mervyn King 5/6, Draw 4/1

Wayne Mardle 5/1, James Wade 3/10, Draw 11/2

Raymond van Barneveld 1/4, Jelle Klaasen 11/2, Draw 11/2

Phil Taylor 1/9, John Part 8/1, Draw 12/1

Boylesports are the official betting partner of the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts

Latest Table (after six weeks)