GARY ANDERSON admits he needs to up his game to KO Scottish rival Peter Wright.
The tartan two-times World Champs go head-to-head in the biggest clash of the Cazoo Premier League quarter-finals at the SSE Arena in Belfast tomorrow night (Thursday).
Anderson, 51, has lost his last two ties with Wright including a crucial World Championship semi-final early last month.
He revealed: “He’s double World Champion now, he’s done brilliant for himself.
“He’s come on leaps and bounds from 10 or 12 years ago when I met Peter at the PDC.
“In the World Championship semi-finals, he nipped it. I would have liked to make it 5-5 to see what would happen. But he got the game out at 6-4.
“Then I played him in the Premier League in the semi-finals on the first night and he done me 6-5. So I’ll have to try and get a bit more practice in!”
Ando has previously admitted he struggled to rekindle his love for the sport but he says his passion has been reborn - despite a tough start to the league.
He added: “It’s quite good actually. My opening matches were first week I had Michael (Van Gerwen), Gezzy (Price) last week and now Peter in Belfast. So it’s a nice start to the tournament.
“But I got past Michael and keep getting past the first one and pick up some points.
“I’m actually enjoying being back playing darts. You never thought you’d hear me say that but I actually am.
“Put it this way, throwing every three days is better than three, four or five weeks. It’s got to be better. But play well or play bad, I’m still enjoying it. That’s half the battle.
“It will be good to get back to Belfast after shutting the country for the last year or two years. Aye, it’s nice to get back on the road and playing in different venues instead of just one like we had to before."
Premier League Night Three, Sky Sports, 7pm.
Quarter-Finals; Michael Smith v Gerwyn Price, Joe Cullen v Michael van Gerwen, Gary Anderson v Peter Wright, James Wade v Jonny Clayton.
Words: Phil Lanning Images: Taylor Lanning.
