Gary Anderson is looking to seal his place in the Premier League lay-offs when he takes on James Wade in Sheffield.
Two-time Premier League champion Anderson is aiming to become the third player, behind Van Gerwen and Peter Wright, to secure his top four spot as Sheffield hosts the season’s penultimate league night.
Anderson sits on 16 points in the table, one ahead of fourth-placed Phil Taylor and two clear of Raymond van Barneveld, and knows that he can ensure his place at The O2 on May 18 when he meets Wade on Thursday.
The Scot defeated Van Barneveld with a fine display in Birmingham last week, and is on a high after winning Sunday’s Players Championship in Wigan.
Wade still has an outside hope of reaching the Play-Offs, although he will need to defeat Anderson and Dave Chisnall in his final two matches and hope that other results work in his favour.
Victory over Adrian Lewis a week ago kept Wade’s hopes alive, but the 2009 Premier League champion admits he may have a tall order if he is to snatch a top-four finish following a four-game losing run in mid-season.
Taylor could also seal a Play-Off place for his farewell Premier League season should he defeat Van Gerwen and other results go his way.
League leader and reigning champion Van Gerwen ended his double-header in Birmingham with a whitewash of Lewis, before hitting a nine-darter as he won a Players Championship on Saturday.
Chisnall has boosted his Play-Off ambitions with two wins and three draws during a five-match unbeaten run, and he meets Van Barneveld in Sheffield.
The night’s other game in Sheffield sees Lewis meet UK Open champion Wright, who has to win to keep up the pressure on Van Gerwen in the battle to claim the £25,000 League Winner’s Bonus.
8/11 Peter Wright 7/2 Draw 3/1 Adrian Lewis
13/10 Raymond van Barneveld 7/2 Draw 6/4 Dave Chisnall
4/1 James Wade 4/1 Draw 8/15 Gary Anderson
1/3 Michael van Gerwen 11/2 Draw 11/2 Phil Taylor