Watch Premier League Darts live on Sky Sports Action & Sky Sports Main Event from 7pm on Thursday
Thursday 28 March 2019 22:07, UK
Premier League Darts is back on Thursday night, live on Sky Sports Action & Sky Sports Main Event, featuring the headline clash between Raymond van Barneveld and Michael van Gerwen. Wayne Mardle looks into his crystal ball...
After Barney's Wednesday night elimination, the Dutch derby between RVB and MVG is the highlight of the final evening of tungsten action in the Netherlands and it promises to be a celebration of Barney's achievements.
Another young Dutchman in the shape of Jeffrey de Zwaan is the final 'Contender' as he takes on Rob Cross, while Daryl Gurney takes on Mensur Suljovic, Peter Wright faces Gerwyn Price and James Wade is in action against Michael Smith.
Wayne runs the rule over five titanic tungsten contests, live on Sky Sports Action and Sky Sports Main Event from 7pm.
This is a tough one and a lot depends on the night before, it really does. Whether your confidence has been dented or you've had a brilliant game or a poor game, it does matter. These are all really tough to call.
I think it will be a close game which is why I'm going for a draw because in general I don't think there's a lot between these guys. I think they're pretty similar in standard and they're both good at everything. I'm going to sit on the fence with this one.
Wayne's score prediction: Draw 6-6
I'm going to go for Peter Wright because even though I've called him inconsistent a month ago, I now think he is playing some consistent stuff. These players change all the time.
Things happen and change so much in darts and Wright for me looks like a force to be reckoned with.
Wayne's score prediction: Wright to win 7-4
I'm putting De Zwann in the Dimitri van den Bergh camp at the moment and obviously we don't know what Dimitri turned up last night, but he's under-performing and he's underperforming a lot. He was reaching real dizzy heights last year, but he's not doing that this year - his averages are around the 90, 92, 93 mark and that's simply not going to get this game done.
I think De Zwann needs to hit form sooner rather than later otherwise all what he did last year, beating Michael van Gerwen twice, the run to the semi-finals of the World Matchplay, it could be good work undone.
I don't think he gets near Cross in this game.
Wayne's score prediction: Cross to win 7-4
If Barney gets beat 7-5 and goes out playing a great game, it's fine. If he goes out of the Premier League with a draw against Michael, it's fine. I just hope he doesn't go out getting annihilated. I would hate to see that. He doesn't deserve that, Barney.
If Barney loses to Daryl Gurney the previous evening, then his mind will be mush and he will know he's probably eliminated, unless he beats Michael. There's a load of permutations, but I really don't see him getting anything from the Van Gerwen game.
Raymond is not a good a player as he was last year, I'm afraid, which is why he's retiring.
Wayne's score prediction: Van Gerwen to win 7-4
I just think Wade is more consistent. If they're both on form I think Smith is better, he's got a game to rival anyone when he's on song. I'm just not quite sure on his form just yet. If he has a great Wednesday then I could easily change my mind.
Wade is that little bit more reliable for me.
Wayne's score prediction: Wade to win 7-5
Wayne Mardle was speaking to Sky Sports' Raz Mirza before Wednesday night's action in Rotterdam. The Premier League heads to the SSE Arena in Belfast on Thursday, April 4. You can also stay up to date with all the action by following us @SkySportsDarts and get all the latest news, previews and interviews www.skysports.com/darts
