Darts: Titans clash at the Odyssey
The darting road show crosses the Irish Sea on Thursday with the Odyssey Arena in Belfast hosting a fourth action-packed evening of tungsten-tossing entertainment.
Three players remain unbeaten in the tournament but all three face big tests on Thursday night, with Phil Taylor going up against what looked like a rejuvenated James Wade last week in a battle of the two best players in the world.
World number two Wade had looked all at sea during his 8-1 thumping by Mervyn King in week two, but he was right back to his best when beating Raymond van Barneveld 8-4 last week.
What did look an easy fixture for Taylor now looks as tough as they come, providing Wade can reproduce the 107 average, which eclipsed Taylor^s mark, and five 180s he plundered against Barney.
A big showdown between the two best players in the world is always an eagerly-anticipated clash, and it is the highlight of the action in Northern Ireland.
King^s crown
Mervyn King^s 100 percent record is on the line when he takes on exciting Dutchman Jelle Klaasen, who has played superbly well in patches but needs more consistency.
Klaasen has just a point to his name, from a week one draw against Terry Jenkins, but has played better than that form suggests.
In fact, the former Lakeside world champion edged Wayne Mardle in the averages and hit more 180s last week, but was on the end of a tight 8-6 defeat.
Five-time world champion van Barneveld is in the unusual position of propping up the Premier League table after three rounds, and it gets no easier for the big Dutchman with Terry Jenkins next in line.
Gamblers may be backing the draw with specialist Jenkins involved, as all three of his matches so far have resulted in 7-7 stalemates, meaning he is playing well but just not able to get over the line.
Checkout wonder
^Hawaii 501^ Mardle hit a spell-binding 160 checkout to deny Jenkins in Edinburgh, while Taylor fought back from 6-4 down to also grab a point last week.
The consistent and tenacious Jenkins will be desperate to register a first win of the season against Barney, who has flattered to deceive somewhat this campaign.
Kicking it all off in Belfast on Thursday night will be the entertainer Mardle, as he goes up against Canadian former world champion John Part.
^Darth Maple^ is another without a win yet this year after two draws and a defeat, and with him and Mardle both models of inconsistency, anything could happen in the curtain-raiser.
Mardle has never found his best form early in the Premier League, but three points from three games represents his best start yet, and if he can also find his late flourish this could be his year.
Story By: Sky Sports