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Mardle: Play-off hopes

But Phil wants to beat me. I've given him torture since I beat him, and he's going to want to come out and beat me 8-0.

Peter Manley
Quotes of the week

Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts
Night 14, Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle
James Wade v John Part
Raymond van Barneveld v Terry Jenkins
Adrian Lewis v Wayne Mardle
Phil Taylor v Peter Manley

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As the final evening of Whyte & Mackay Premier League round robin matches draws near, there is still one play-off place to be decided.

Wayne Mardle, Adrian Lewis and Peter Manley are locked on 11 points each and all have a chance of clinching the final top-four spot in what promises to be an enthralling evening of action in the North East on Thursday.

Five straight defeats at the start of the campaign had left Mardle branded as the whipping boy at the bottom of the Premier League.

However, an 8-0 thrashing at the hands of Phil Taylor sparked new life into 'Hawaii 501' - the Essex thrower went on to win four of his next five matches to reignite hopes of a place in the top four.

Must win

Mardle faces Lewis in a 'sudden-death' showdown and the popular 34-year-old admits an inferior leg difference could cost him a qualification place come the end of the night.

"I need to win," he said. "What has cost me is the two results against Phil (Taylor), otherwise my legs difference would have been better than both Adrian and Peter.

"Now I need to win, it's clear-cut and there is only one way to play and that's to be aggressive."

Even a win for Mardle will not be good enough should Manley defeat Taylor in the final game of the night.

Torture

'The Power' is a daunting opponent at the best of times, but 'One Dart' expects the 13-time world champion to be even more fired up as he looks to avenge his defeat to Manley earlier in the group stage and seal top spot in the table.

"I know what I have to do," said Manley. "I got my biggest win of the season against Phil so hopefully it will be a good game.

"But Phil wants to beat me. I've given him torture since I beat him, and he's going to want to come out and beat me 8-0."

One man ready to pounce on any 'Power' failure is James Wade. The 'Machine' can still claim top spot should he beat bottom of the table John Part in the opening game of the night and Manley topples Taylor.

The remaining match sees recently crowned Amsterdam Open champion Raymond van Barneveld take on Terry Jenkins.

Barneveld is already guaranteed a place in the play-off shake-up and 'The Bull' will be seeking only his fourth win of the campaign to avoid finishing the tournament at the bottom of the pile.