Wayne Mardle says Peter Wright must believe in his own ability ahead of Thursday's Premier League Darts
"I just think that Peter Wright knows he has the ability, but when you keep failing to put your main rival away, it can become tiresome in the mind. "
Thursday 5 April 2018 23:30, UK
Peter Wright must believe in his own ability as he prepares to battle for Premier League survival on Judgement Night, says Wayne Mardle.
The world number two has endured a testing campaign and sits just one point above the elimination zone heading into Thursday night's action in Liverpool.
'Snakebite' ended a run of three consecutive 7-1 defeats by salvaging a point from 6-3 down against Simon Whitlock last week, which moved him one point clear of Mensur Suljovic.
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'The Gentle' faces the daunting prospect of playing Michael van Gerwen on Judgement Night, therefore Wright could be safe before he faces Daryl Gurney in the evening's finale.
Wright has enjoyed an impressive revival over recent weeks - making back-to-back finals on the European Tour in Leverkusen and Munich, but on both occasions, he was thwarted by MVG.
After his defeat in Munich, Wright joked: "I'm a great runner-up! [Michael] said to me a couple of years ago that I would be number two in the world and he would be number one. He was correct - I hate him!"
Snakebite's solitary league win came against Van Gerwen in week two, but the Dutchman has won six of their last seven meetings and Wright must believe he can challenge MVG, says Mardle.
"Michael is not only the best dart player in the world, but because he knows he's the best, he can say what he likes. The bottom line is Michael knows how good he is. Peter Wright has to believe that on his day he can match Michael; which he can, but being a match is not the same as beating someone as often as maybe you should.
"Peter may doubt himself just that little bit against Michael, and if he's going to start winning regularly, he's going to have to deal with Michael van Gerwen, because unfortunately, Michael plays in a lot of events.
"He's not like a Gary Anderson or Barney that goes missing for weeks on end; Peter Wright has got to find a way to deal with him.
Wright spurned six match darts to defeat Van Gerwen in last year's Premier League final and Mardle insists it is crucial that Snakebite isn't psychologically affected by that missed opportunity.
"He can do it, but there's two things there; he had his chances to win the Premier League," said Mardle. "He didn't take them. There's also the fact he beat him in the league phase. Now that's not the same as beating him in a knockout event.
"I believe when he's on form he is one of the hardest men to beat, along with Gary, Rob, Barney and Michael because he has got that relentless nature that doesn't falter"
"He missed a handful of darts at double last year to get it done. I hope that the situation he put himself in last year- of failing; I hope that doesn't prey on his mind every time he gets a chance to put Van Gerwen away.
"I'm not knocking Peter Wright. I believe when he's on form he is one of the hardest men to beat, along with Gary, Rob, Barney and Michael because he has got that relentless nature that doesn't falter, but Michael van Gerwen seems to have his number definitely in the knockout situation and that has to change sooner rather than later," he added.
Wright faces an in-form Daryl Gurney on Judgement Night, with the Northern Irishman looking for his third successive Premier League victory. 'Super Chin' has also won the pair's last three meetings and Mardle is finding it difficult to separate them.
"I think Peter will perform well; I really do, I think he'll play well but I think Daryl Gurney will, that's why I can't divide them; I can't part them.
"I just think that Peter Wright knows he has the ability, but when you keep failing to put your main rival away, it can become tiresome in the mind. There's no point in beating someone in a league phase and it may have no bearing on any outcome whatsoever," 'Hawaii 501' claimed.
Wright is renowned for changing his darts at regular intervals, but the former UK Open champion has reverted to his tried and tested equipment over recent weeks, to great effect. Mardle claims it is essential that last year's Premier League finalist sticks with his current set-up.
"He seems to have found them but he found them two years ago and he's been great with them every time he plays," said the Sky Sports pundit. "I was chatting with Peter and Jo Wright at breakfast in Belfast; the morning after he got the draw which put him in good stead, and Jo's words to me in front of Peter were: 'I'm going to try my best to make sure he doesn't ever switch again'.
"I just believe that Peter Wright is so good that he does need to stick. No one is that good where they can keep changing darts and Peter's proven that. I think he's always there to be mentioned as a possible winner of anything and could he win the Premier League? Of course, he could."
The 2018 Premier League heads to the Echo Arena in Liverpool for Judgement Night on Thursday, with coverage underway from 7pm on Sky Sports Action & Sky Sports Mix, which you can find on channel 287, and is free for all Sky customers. Six 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.
Keep up to date with the latest darts news, previews, reports, reaction and expert analysis. Get all the latest at www.skysports.com/darts and join in the conversation @SkySportsDarts- don't forget to use #LoveTheDarts
