The action from the SSE Arena gets underway live on Sky Sports Action from 7pm
Friday 5 April 2019 11:25, UK
The Premier League roadshow rolls into Belfast on Thursday night, as Daryl Gurney seeks a dream homecoming against Rob Cross when they collide for the second straight year at the SSE Arena.
Raymond van Barneveld was eliminated in his farewell campaign following an emotional double-header in Rotterdam last week, therefore the attention now switches to the race for a top four spot, with just six points separating the remaining eight players.
Michael van Gerwen is bidding to top the league phase for the seventh consecutive campaign and he puts his 100 percent record against Gerwyn Price on the line, while Mensur Suljovic take on James Wade and Michael Smith plays Peter Wright.
Suljovic and Wade kick off Thursday's proceedings in Belfast, as 'The Gentle' bids to secure his third win over Wade in as many weeks.
The Austrian defeated 'The Machine' 7-3 in Nottingham on Night Six, before reeling off six straight legs to defeat the nine-time major winner in the European Darts Open a fortnight ago.
Suljovic has won four of his last six league matches but enjoyed mixed fortunes in Rotterdam, whilst Wade posted two ton-topping averages as he collected three points from his two matches on Dutch soil.
Wade currently occupies third position as he bids to reach the play-offs for the first time since 2013 and he boasts a tournament average of 100.88 - the highest in this year's competition to date.
Following the elimination of Van Barneveld on Judgement Night, Smith and Wright are the current bottom two and the pair face a must-win clash in Belfast.
Wright endured a desperately disappointing Dutch double-header, losing 7-1 to Van Gerwen before suffering a narrow reverse against Price on Thursday night.
Smith defeated Price on the opening night of action but slipped to a 7-4 defeat against Wade 24 hours later, despite missing double 12 for a nine-darter in the opening leg.
The pair played out a 6-6 draw on Night Two in Aberdeen, but Smith secured a brace of 7-1 victories over 'Snakebite' 12 months ago and last year's finalist will be hoping for similar success to maintain his top four ambitions.
Cross and Gurney collide in Belfast for the second year in succession and the Northern Irishman will be hoping for a case of darting déjà vu.
'Super Chin' defeated the 2018 world champion 7-5 in a thrilling tussle last year and he heads home in brilliant form, having lifted his fourth PDC title at the German Darts Championship over the weekend.
This win catapults Gurney up to a career high of third on the PDC Order of Merit and he's also claimed three straight Premier League wins, which has seen him climb to fourth position in the table.
Gurney defeated Cross 6-2 en route to glory in Hildesheim on Sunday, but 'Voltage' ran out a 7-1 winner when they locked horns in Exeter back in February, and Cross will be keen to keep tabs with Van Gerwen at the summit.
Price will be looking to secure a groundbreaking victory over Van Gerwen as they conclude the night's action at the SSE Arena.
The Dutchman has enjoyed incredible dominance over 'The Iceman' but Price came so close to toppling MVG at the European Darts Open, missing one match dart as Van Gerwen took out 118 in the decider to prevail 6-5.
'The Green Machine' had picked up three points from his last four games prior to Rotterdam, but he returned to winning ways in emphatic style on home turf; recording 7-1 successes over Wright and Van Barneveld respectively.
The world champion leads Cross via legs difference as he bids to top the league phase for the seventh straight season, but Price is just two points adrift of the play-offs as he aims to avoid a 16th consecutive loss against MVG.
The Premier League continues as we head to the SSE Arena in Belfast on Thursday, April 4. You can also stay up-to-date with all the action by following us @SkySportsDarts and get all the latest news, previews and interviews www.skysports.com/darts
