Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen do battle on crucial Premier League night in Birmingham

Phil Taylor takes on Michael van Gerwen on another crucial night of Premier League Darts in Birmingham this week.

There is much still to play for with the battle for the play-off spots set to go right down to the wire, with Van Gerwen the only player currently guaranteed one of the four places at the O2 next month.

The picture will at least become clearer by the end of Thursday night’s action with all players having played the same number of games. Adrian Lewis and Raymond van Barneveld are the final players to double up in the regular season this year, rounding off the evening’s darts in a match that could go a long way to determining who will secure a top-four position.

Dave Chisnall v Adrian Lewis

Chisnall comes into this one on the back of successive defeats to Phil Taylor and Van Barneveld but knows that victory here would all but confirm his play-off place.

However, Lewis has been in good form since Judgement Night and is just a point off the top four himself. A 6-6 draw with Taylor in Cardiff came a week after a convincing win over Stephen Bunting and another victory would not only enhance his only play-off chances but could drag Chisnall right back into the mix.

The pair last met back in March and it was Chisnall who triumphed, 7-2, and he could certainly do with a repeat result if he wants to avoid a rather tense last two rounds.

Raymond van Barneveld v Gary Anderson

This game produced an entertaining 6-6 draw back in April but Barney will be looking to go one better this time around as he bids to leapfrog Taylor in fourth spot.

The Dutchman has been in sparkling form since that draw, beating Taylor as well as the current top two, Chisnall and Van Gerwen, in his last three games.

Anderson, meanwhile, has been more inconsistent. The world champion lost to Chisnall and drew with James Wade before going into a double-header with Bunting and Van Gerwen last week. It was a similar story as he was comfortably beaten by Bunting before getting the better of the world No 1.

James Wade v Stephen Bunting

Both players were involved in extremely one-sided affairs last time out in Cardiff, albeit on opposing sides of the scorelines.

While Bunting thumped Anderson 7-1, Wade was helpless to stop an irresistible display from Van Gerwen, losing 7-0.

The duo shared the points on the opening night of the Premier League season – a result that would help neither as they endeavour to improve their standings in the table and hold on to their slim chances of a top-four finish.

Michael van Gerwen v Phil Taylor

The current world No 1 takes on the greatest player in the history of the sport in arguably the night’s most highly-anticipated match.

Van Gerwen can relax to some extent knowing that his place at the O2 is secure but will be keen to stay top of the table until the end of the regular season. On the other hand, Taylor is in a real battle to ensure he joins the Dutchman in London and could drop to sixth with a defeat.

The Stoke player could even drop out of the top four with a victory as his nearest challengers, Van Barneveld and Lewis, are at the oche twice in Birmingham.

Adrian Lewis v Raymond van Barneveld

Both men are multiple world champions but in all likelihood at least one of them will miss out on a chance to play for the Premier League title at the O2 Arena.

Their last meeting in this format came on the opening night of the current campaign and it was ‘Jackpot’ who left with the spoils, winning handsomely 7-1. Both men have had their wobbles since that night and should either of them make the the top four, it will be a remarkable turnaround.

On paper it is Lewis who faces the tougher final fixtures with matches against Van Gerwen and Anderson to come, while Barney goes up against Wade and Bunting. However, those matches will not even cross the duo's minds when they meet at the oche for a potentially decisive match.