Michael van Gerwen faces Phil Taylor in Premier League Darts on Thursday

The top two players in the world collide in Nottingham on Thursday night as the competition for a top-four spot in the Premier League intensifies.

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Michael van Gerwen and Phil Taylor will renew hostilities in the Capital FM Arena, with the former arriving in superb form after capturing the UK Open last weekend.

The players ranked third and fourth in the world also face off as world champion Gary Anderson meets Adrian Lewis, while there is a relegation four-pointer as the Premier League’s bottom two players, Peter Wright and Kim Huybrechts, clash in the final game of the night.

Stephen Bunting v Dave Chisnall

Premier League leader Dave Chisnall will be out for revenge after his defeat to fellow St Helens native Stephen Bunting in the fourth round of last weekend’s UK Open.

Bunting raced into a 7-0 lead and withstood a Chisnall fightback to prevail 9-6 in Minehead. It was a game to forget for ‘Chizzy’ who missed 15 darts at doubles, and he will hope he can rediscover his blistering Premier League form when he takes to the stage in Nottingham.

Chisnall extended his unbeaten streak to five games in Exeter with a stunning 7-2 victory over world champion Gary Anderson, averaging 110.78. It was also a good trip to the West Country for Bunting, who beat Adrian Lewis to record his first Premier League win.

Bunting continued his good form at the UK Open as he reached the semi-finals, defeating Michael Smith and Chisnall along the way, but he then suffered a demoralising 10-0 loss to Peter Wright.

The 29-year-old’s Premier League average of 94.04 is the lowest of all 10 players, and it could be a difficult night for him in Nottingham if Chisnall continues to score big.

Raymond van Barneveld v James Wade

Both of these players registered their highest Premier League averages of the season last week, but it wasn’t enough as they were both defeated.

Van Barneveld averaged 102.65 as he came from 6-2 down to force a deciding leg against Kim Huybrechts, but the brilliant Belgian held his nerve to claim a vital victory, while Wade’s 104.09 average wasn’t enough against old adversary Phil Taylor.

Disappointing showings at the UK Open won’t help either man's confidence and with just one win apiece from their opening five games, both are in need of a victory in Nottingham as they attempt to drag themselves up the table.

Van Barneveld’s grip on the Premier League trophy is loosening by the week and although he showed signs of improvement in Exeter, Wade is the favourite to prevail.

Phil Taylor v Michael van Gerwen

Michael van Gerwen continued his blistering form since the World Darts Championship by lifting the UK Open for the first time, but he has been frustrated in his last two Premier League outings.

The Dutchman accused Adrian Lewis of slowing their game down in Belfast, and he also lost his cool during last week’s draw against Peter Wright.

Van Gerwen averaged 95.57 against Wright, the first time he scored below 100 in this year’s Premier League, and that was in stark contrast to Phil Taylor, who hit a superb 106.48 average in his win over James Wade.

Taylor looked destined to meet Van Gerwen in Sunday’s UK Open decider but fell to a surprise loss against Wright in the quarter-finals, despite hitting eight 180s and averaging over 108.

‘The Power’ was beaten on the opening night of the Premier League but he has responded in style with three victories in his next four games, and he looked much sharper on his doubles against Wade, registering a 64 per cent checkout rate.

Van Gerwen has yet to taste defeat in this year’s competition but his mettle will be tested by Taylor, with another high-scoring classic expected between these two darting heavyweights.

Gary Anderson v Adrian Lewis

Gary Anderson was left shaking his head last week after being blown away by an in-form Dave Chisnall, but his poor finishing at the UK Open is a cause for concern.

The world champion missed 13 match darts as he fell at the first hurdle to Mervyn King in Minehead, and he has averaged over 100 just once in this year’s Premier League.

Lewis was feeling under the weather during his loss to Stephen Bunting in Exeter as his Premier League winless streak was extended to four games, but he fared no better in his attempts to defend the UK Open title, crashing out in the third round against Raymond van Barneveld.

The players met in Nottingham last year, where Lewis edged a low-scoring tussle, and the Stoke thrower could do with another victory to avoid getting dragged into a relegation battle.

Kim Huybrechts v Peter Wright

Huybrechts picked up his first ever Premier League victory last week with a superb performance against Raymond van Barneveld. The Belgian hit a 170 checkout and six maximums to keep his survival hopes alive.

Huybrechts remains in the relegation zone along with his opponent Peter Wright, who has drawn his last three Premier League fixtures. But ‘Snakebite’ has returned to form in recent weeks, claiming a point against Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen before reaching the UK Open final, where he ran out of steam against the latter.

Wright has only been using his latest set for darts for less than a fortnight but they seem to be doing the trick. The Scot was in fine scoring form at Minehead and averaged 105.10 in his ruthless 10-0 semi-final demolition of Stephen Bunting.

Huybrechts was defeated by an unstoppable Van Gerwen at the UK Open but he has averaged over 105 in his last two Premier League outings. If both players can continue that form, they will bring the curtain down on Nottingham in style.

Watch Premier League Darts live on Sky Sports 1 on Thursday from 7pm