"I can't wait. It doesn't matter what sport you're in, you always look forward to playing in front of your home crowd."
Thursday 29 March 2018 19:48, UK
Daryl Gurney takes on world champion Rob Cross as the Premier League roadshow heads to Belfast on Thursday night, and the Northern Irishman is relishing his return to home soil.
'Super Chin' secured the first victory of his debut Premier League campaign in Glasgow last week, defeating Mensur Suljovic 7-3 to move two points clear of the elimination zone.
Gurney cannot wait to appear on home turf as he bids to confirm his survival with victory over 'Voltage' and he has fond memories of playing there after his World Grand Prix triumph last October.
"I can't wait. It doesn't matter what sport you're in, you always look forward to playing in front of your home crowd," Gurney told Sky Sports in an exclusive interview. "I'm definitely looking forward to it and I think it's nearly a sell out now so 11,000 people there; it should be a great atmosphere, like every other venue we've been too."
However, 'Super Chin' admits it may be difficult to maintain his focus and avoid becoming overawed by the occasion. "I'm going to try and keep my emotions in check, but I don't want to put too much pressure on myself.
"At the end of the day I'm playing the world champion and I know the crowd's going to be on my side which is probably an unusual thing, because bar the Grand Prix we play all over England and I haven't usually got the crowd on my side that much, so it's going to be a first; having the crowd with me instead of against me," he quipped.
It's been a mixed campaign thus far for the Northern Irishman, who has only suffered defeat against the league's top two - Michael van Gerwen and Michael Smith.
He drew four of his opening six games after relinquishing leads against Raymond van Barneveld, Gerwyn Price and Gary Anderson but insists that he's "loved every minute".
"Practising is going well, I still haven't taken my A-game on to the board yet. My scoring has been there and thereabouts; it's not quite up to 100 per cent and then my finishing is kind of there and thereabouts; it's not where I want it to be but I'm still playing well enough to actually have darts at double to win a match.
"In the last few weeks, I've felt a lot more confident and a lot more happy to be on the stage, so a bit more confidence, get my scoring up another slight percentage and hit my doubles the way I had been all the way through 2017 and I could cause a couple of shocks," Gurney added.
Gurney's maiden Premier League victory last Thursday came on his 32nd birthday and he admitted that the two points provided the 'perfect' present.
"I think I might say it's my birthday this week too, to see if I can get away with it," he joked. "It was a good weekend and it was my birthday so it was the perfect birthday present."
"You've got to beat the best to be the best, so that's the way I see it."
With Judgement Night looming, it's finely poised at both ends of the table and Gurney is in the mix for play-off contention and the battle to avoid elimination, and he made reference to the unpredictability of this year's competition.
"I think that's what is so enjoyable about this year's Premier League. I'm two points away from being in the top four and I'm two points away from being relegated. I think that's what is more entertaining because the last few years I've watched it myself and seen what players are in it and you kind of knew the results that were going to come out," he said.
Gurney is one of four debutants in this year's field, in the biggest shake-up the tournament has seen since its inception in 2005. The Premier League is notoriously an event that can make or break careers, but the Northern Irishman insists that he relishes the prospect of pitting his wits against the world's elite.
"You're playing against the best players in the world, so if you don't play your best you're going to get punished anyway, but there's a reason why you're there - because you are one of the best players in the world. It's very daunting to play with the best players in the world, but at the same time, you've got to beat the best to be the best, so that's the way I see it."
Gurney faces a tough task against a resurgent Cross, who has responded to losing his opening two matches by reeling off five successive victories to surge into third place in the table. Nevertheless, the home favourite is determined to savour the occasion.
He added: "I think he lost his first two matches and then won the rest of them. He's a very hard player to beat, it doesn't matter what state he's at; he's a man full of confidence, but whatever happens, win lose or draw, I'll definitely enjoy myself in Belfast on Thursday night.
"I think the place is going to go absolutely mad to be honest with you. I'm on fourth so by that time in the evening everyone's going to be in full voice. I'm actually worried I may get too up for it because there's going to be 11,000 people singing 'Sweet Caroline', so I'm going to have to calm myself down very quickly."
The 2018 Premier League heads to the SSE Arena in Belfast on Thursday with coverage underway from 7pm on Sky Sports Action. Eight weeks of tungsten action will then continue through to the season's conclusion with the Play-Offs on May 17 at The O2 in London.
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