Premier League: Eric Bristow, Jocky Wilson and Peter Manley feature in our dream match-ups

Eric Bristow, Jocky Wilson and Peter Manley all feature in our shortlist of dream Premier League matches.

Which two darts stars from the past or present would create an epic encounter in the red-hot atmosphere of a Premier League night?

Live Premier League Darts

The Sky Sports trio of Wayne Mardle, Dave Clark and Rod Studd have made their picks...

Jocky Wilson v Eric Bristow, SSE Hydro in Glasgow

Wayne Mardle: It would be Jocky Wilson versus Eric Bristow, but it would have to take place in Glasgow. The reason being that Eric would be getting so much stick it would be hilarious to watch him deal with it.

The darts would be absolutely quality. If you take Bristow from 1984-85 and Jocky from the same era, that would be a great game. I think it would be nip and tuck all the way through, but Eric would eventually win 7-5.

Jocky would miss one dart at double top while attempting a 120 finish. Eric would take out 64 on his last dart, turn around very, very slowly, smile and shake Jocky's hand. Then he would smile at the Glasgow crowd, and laugh.

Eric Bristow v Michael van Gerwen, 3Arena Dublin

Dave Clark: These two are leaders of their generation of darts players and would supply a brilliant match. 'Brissy' in his prime would try to get into Van Gerwen's head, the mind games would start weeks beforehand, and he would probably rattle the Dutchman.

The animation and cockiness of Bristow and the animation and cockiness of Van Gerwen. It's a dream mix, it's combustible.

It would be a perfect storm between those two - and a perfect match of darts. The animation and cockiness of Bristow and the animation and cockiness of Van Gerwen. It's a dream mix, it's combustible.

Dublin would be the place to have it, Bristow would get a lot of stick there, and that would wind him up even more. The walk-ons would be fantastic, it would be a tinderbox atmosphere, absolutely incredible. Just seeing Bristow's little finger raised in the air in front of 10,000 people, it would be breathtaking.

I think Bristow would fly out of the blocks, put in a couple of 180s, there would be a nine-darter in there as well. Van Gerwen would fire back and level things up in the decisive leg of an all-time classic Premier League match. Despite claiming a point, I think Van Gerwen would have a tear in his eyes that the old dog had bothered him.

John Lowe v Peter Manley, Circus Tavern, Purfleet

Rod Studd: This would be a great clash between contrasting styles and generations in the sport. John Lowe, one of the great stalwarts of the game, from the first golden era of darts against Peter 'One Dart' Manley, who just epitomised everything about the razzmatazz and the panache that currently surrounds the game.

It could be held at the Sands Centre in Carlisle, where hometown player Manley would still have less than half of the crowd's support, but I have opted for that old darting bear pit of the Circus Tavern.  

The studious Lowe, a great ambassador for sportsmanship, would share the oche with Manley, the master of mischief making. It would be terrific. Who can forget Manley's match against Adrian Lewis when he gave that 'who me? look' as 'Jackpot' walked off the stage during the game. 

Lowe would be thinking: 'I'm here to play darts, what are you here for?'

John Lowe would make his way to the oche in serene, statesmanlike fashion, whereas Manley would cavort towards the stage in his pink flamingo shirt with 'Is this the way to Amarillo' blaring out. Lowe would be thinking: 'I'm here to play darts, what are you here for?'

Peter would try every tactic in the book to unsettle Lowe. He would see it as a great challenge to get old stone face to crack at some point. That would be the ultimate feather in his cap, probably better than the Lewis walk out. 

In the match itself, you could probably have Lowe down for a nine-darter. But I can just see Manley hitting a 121, a 161 and a 141, with some of his monstrous one dart finishes and somehow managing to win, despite not playing as well as his opponent. In a final impish act, he would take the board off the wall, and ask John Lowe to sign it.

Watch all of the Premier League action this Thursday night, starting at 7pm on Sky Sports 1.