The battle to avoid elimination from the Unibet Premier League season continues on Thursday with Night Six at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, where Stephen Bunting also makes a Challenger appearance.

With four games remaining before Judgement Night sees the ninth-placed player eliminated from the Premier League, Daryl Gurney faces a crucial clash with table-topper Glen Durrant in Liverpool.

The Northern Irish ace picked up a second draw of the Premier League season last week in Exeter, before enjoying a confidence-boosting run to the semi-finals of the UK Open over the weekend.

A win for Gurney would see him draw level on four points with Rob Cross ahead of the 2019 finalist’s clash with Bunting later in the evening in Liverpool.

Cross took victory when the pair met in the UK Open on Saturday, continuing his recent return to form after first-game exits at the World Championship and The Masters.

Luke Humphries became the first Challenger to win on the Premier League stage by defeating Gary Anderson in Exeter, and St Helens’ Bunting is hoping to follow suit in front of his home appearance.

St Helens’ Michael Smith also gets the chance to star in his local arena this week, opening the event against Peter Wright as he bids to continue his strong recent form.

Smith hit a nine-darter against Gurney a fortnight ago in Dublin before seeing off Michael van Gerwen in Exeter, and the 2018 finalist has now won three successive games in a fine run.

Van Gerwen takes on Gerwyn Price in another huge clash in Liverpool, with the pair having met in the final of the UK Open on Sunday in a contest which was edged by the Dutchman.

The night’s other tie in Liverpool sees two-time Premier League champion Gary Anderson up against US Darts Masters winner Nathan Aspinall.

UNIBET VIEW FROM JACK MILNER

Unibet Spokesperson Jack Milner: “Cross was perhaps unfortunate to not earn two points against Daryl Gurney in Exeter, eventually drawing 6-6 with the Northern Irishman, and continues his trend of taking each and every of his PL games this term to a deciding leg.

“Cross is unlikely to be popular on Merseyside however, will be popular with punters in multiples and Unibet have a host of enhanced accumulators for Week 6 including Rob Cross, Michael Van Gerwen and Peter Wright, the last three World Champions, all 8/1 to gain victory in Liverpool.”

Unibet Premier League of Darts Week 6 Match Prices
9/5 Michael Smith – Draw 10/3 – Peter Wright 11/10
17/10 Daryl Gurney – Draw 3/1 – Glen Durrant 3/1
2/1 Gerwyn Price – Draw 16/5 – Michael Van Gerwen Evens
17/20 Rob Cross – Draw 10/3 – Stephen Bunting 12/5
8/5 Gary Anderson – Draw 3/1 – Nathan Aspinall 5/4

Enhanced Accas
Rob Cross, MVG and Peter Wright all to Win 8/1
Glen Durrant, MVG and Peter Wright all to Win 9/1
Glen Durrant, Rob Cross and Peter Wright all to Win 9/1
Peter Wright, MVG and Gary Anderson all to Win 12/1
Gary Anderson, Rob Cross and MVG all to Win 10/1
Peter Wright, Rob Cross and Gary Anderson all to Win 11/1

King of the Oche (Win the game, hit the highest checkout and have the most 180s in the game)
Gerwyn Price to be King of the Oche v MVG 9/1
Stephen Bunting to be King of the Oche v Rob Cross 10/1
Gary Anderson and MVG Both to be King of the Oche 28/1