Premier League stars will renew their rivalries in Bournemouth on Thursday

The Premier League heads to Bournemouth this week as the battle for points continues following a thrilling opening night of the competition.

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Michael van Gerwen v Stephen Bunting

Van Gerwen has responded in the best possible fashion since losing his World Championship crown last month and looks determined to finish top of the Premier League for the second time.

Having captured the Unibet Masters earlier this month, the Dutchman averaged 107.72 during last week’s comfortable Premier League win over Kim Huybrechts. He also won two UK Open qualifiers over the weekend, which included a 6-1 win over Bunting on Sunday.

Bunting showed great character to snatch a draw on his Premier League debut, coming back from 6-4 down against James Wade, but his percentage on doubles needs to improve if he is to cause an upset against the in-form world No 1.

Adrian Lewis v Phil Taylor

Lewis lit up Leeds last week with a stunning 113.80 average in his 7-1 defeat of Raymond van Barneveld, his highest in a televised game and fourth-highest in Premier League history.

‘Jackpot’ was determined to prove a point following his World Championship exit at the hands of Van Barneveld, and he gave his opponent no chance with some clinical finishing.

Lewis was a 7-3 winner when he faced Taylor in Bournemouth last year, but ‘The Power’ exacted revenge when they met later in the season as he recovered from a dismal start to reach the play-offs.

Taylor missed double top to claim a draw with Gary Anderson last week but finished with an average of over 104. The Stoke duo are in superb scoring form and a south coast classic could be on the cards.

Peter Wright v Gary Anderson

Anderson shrugged off the effects of flu while inflicting another defeat on Taylor, in a repeat of last month’s World Championship final.

Yet again, the newly-crowned world champion appeared to have the edge over Taylor and kept his nose in front to secure a 7-5 victory.

The Scot was not at his sparkling best, averaging less than ‘The Power’, but steely determination has been the key to recent success and he found the double at crucial stages.    

In stark contrast, Wright produced wayward finishing throughout his opening night thrashing by Dave Chisnall, converting just 20 per cent of his checkouts.

The Suffolk man, normally a heavy scorer, averaged just 87 in the 7-1 defeat and will need to raise his standards dramatically against Anderson.

Dave Chisnall v Raymond van Barneveld

Chisnall would have been forgiven for approaching his opening match with a bit of trepidation, but he put his Ally Pally woes behind him during his one-sided thumping of Wright.

A dominant display from the St Helens man was a perfect response to his second-round exit at the World Championships and he will be striving for more after only mustering a seventh-place finish last year.

He next faces defending champion van Barneveld, who this week admitted he is out-of-form after a heavy defeat against the rampaging Lewis.

The Dutchman was forced to stand and admire as ‘Jackpot’ raced through a string of legs and could not match his opponent’s heavy scoring or deadly accuracy at the doubles.

But ‘Barney’ is a gritty competitor and will draw on his vast experience as he attempts to kick-start his season against Chisnall.

James Wade v Kim Huybrechts

Wade let victory slip from his grasp as he marked his return to the competition with a draw against Bunting in Yorkshire.

The Aldershot thrower, back after a one-year absence, appeared to be cruising at 6-4 up, but was left to curse the wasteful finishing that allowed his opponent to snatch a point.

In spite of this frustrating result, Wade can take positives from his solid showing and will have shed the first night nerves which he revealed afterwards.

Huybrechts was handed a daunting debut against Van Gerwen, eventually falling to a 7-3 defeat, but earned credit from studio expert Wayne Mardle after keeping pace with the Dutchman in the early stages.

Both men faltered with their finishing last week and the calmer player should prevail in this encounter.

You can watch all the action from Thursday night's Premier League matches on Sky Sports 1, starting at 7pm.