The leading names in darts are back in Sydney for the PDC's World Series of Darts event, which will be held at the Hordern Pavilion in Moore Park through to August 30th.
The 16-player event was won last year by Phil Taylor, the 16-time World Champion and last weekend's Perth Darts Masters winner who will open his bid to retain the title against Paul Nicholson.
"I've got great memories from when I beat Michael van Gerwen in Sydney last year but it's going to be tough to win the title again," said Taylor, the joint-favourite to win the event
"That's part and parcel of it with these World Series events, but I'm enjoying the toughness of it and I'm relishing the competition. I feel good and I love winning.
"Paul's a great competitor and I know his game really well, and I'll have to be on my game on Friday against him."
Nicholson, formerly based in Melbourne and the winner of the Players Championship Finals in 2010, has represented Australia in four World Cup of Darts pairs events alongside Simon Whitlock, reaching the 2012 final.
He had been defeated by Taylor in last year's Sydney Darts Masters and lost to van Gerwen in the quarter-finals in Perth last week, but said: "I feel great after Perth and, even though I lost to Michael, it was a step in the right direction for me.
"I'm getting some consistency in my game. I don't think anybody expects me to beat Phil, so I'm going to go up there and enjoy it, and if I get shots at doubles I'll take them.
"My confidence is starting to grow again and I'm starting to feel comfortable with my new darts. It's all positive and I can't wait for the future."
World Champion Michael van Gerwen, last year's runner-up to Taylor in Sydney, will take on New Zealand's number one player Warren Parry in their first round clash on Thursday.
Van Gerwen has already won World Series of Darts titles in Dubai and Singapore but lost to Taylor in the Perth Darts Masters last weekend, and the joint-favourite said: "I've never won a tournament in Australia before so I'd love to do that this weekend.
"Last year I lost to Phil here and last week I lost to him in Perth too, but I hope I can get some revenge and I'm really looking forward to this tournament.
"Australia is a great country and darts is getting bigger over here, which is fantastic. I want to do really well and give the fans some good games this week."
Australian number one Simon Whitlock, meanwhile, will begin his challenge in Sydney against David Platt on Thursday night, with the Perth-based thrower having hit a nine-dart finish in a DPA ranking event on Sunday.
World Championship finalist Peter Wright, the number four seed, has drawn current DPA Australian Grand Prix Order of Merit leader Loz Ryder, from Perth, for their first round clash.
Reigning Premier League Darts champion Raymond van Barneveld will meet another top Australian star, Kyle Anderson, in a tasty first round contest which sees the emerging ace back on home soil after moving to the UK to compete full-time on the PDC circuit.
"He's a brilliant player," said Barneveld. "I've played him twice on the tour and we've got one win each. He's a heavy scorer and I'm looking forward to this game."
Seven-time major champion James Wade faces fellow left-hander Shane Tichowitsch, the Bundaberg thrower who is currently second on the Australian Grand Prix rankings.
2013 World Grand Prix finalist Dave Chisnall opens up against qualifier Damon Heta, while World Series of Darts debutant Stephen Bunting - the reigning Lakeside Champion - has drawn another new face from the DPA circuit, John Weber.
The 16-player event was won last year by Phil Taylor, the 16-time World Champion and last weekend's Perth Darts Masters winner who will open his bid to retain the title against Paul Nicholson.
"I've got great memories from when I beat Michael van Gerwen in Sydney last year but it's going to be tough to win the title again," said Taylor, the joint-favourite to win the event
"That's part and parcel of it with these World Series events, but I'm enjoying the toughness of it and I'm relishing the competition. I feel good and I love winning.
"Paul's a great competitor and I know his game really well, and I'll have to be on my game on Friday against him."
Nicholson, formerly based in Melbourne and the winner of the Players Championship Finals in 2010, has represented Australia in four World Cup of Darts pairs events alongside Simon Whitlock, reaching the 2012 final.
He had been defeated by Taylor in last year's Sydney Darts Masters and lost to van Gerwen in the quarter-finals in Perth last week, but said: "I feel great after Perth and, even though I lost to Michael, it was a step in the right direction for me.
"I'm getting some consistency in my game. I don't think anybody expects me to beat Phil, so I'm going to go up there and enjoy it, and if I get shots at doubles I'll take them.
"My confidence is starting to grow again and I'm starting to feel comfortable with my new darts. It's all positive and I can't wait for the future."
World Champion Michael van Gerwen, last year's runner-up to Taylor in Sydney, will take on New Zealand's number one player Warren Parry in their first round clash on Thursday.
Van Gerwen has already won World Series of Darts titles in Dubai and Singapore but lost to Taylor in the Perth Darts Masters last weekend, and the joint-favourite said: "I've never won a tournament in Australia before so I'd love to do that this weekend.
"Last year I lost to Phil here and last week I lost to him in Perth too, but I hope I can get some revenge and I'm really looking forward to this tournament.
"Australia is a great country and darts is getting bigger over here, which is fantastic. I want to do really well and give the fans some good games this week."
Australian number one Simon Whitlock, meanwhile, will begin his challenge in Sydney against David Platt on Thursday night, with the Perth-based thrower having hit a nine-dart finish in a DPA ranking event on Sunday.
World Championship finalist Peter Wright, the number four seed, has drawn current DPA Australian Grand Prix Order of Merit leader Loz Ryder, from Perth, for their first round clash.
Reigning Premier League Darts champion Raymond van Barneveld will meet another top Australian star, Kyle Anderson, in a tasty first round contest which sees the emerging ace back on home soil after moving to the UK to compete full-time on the PDC circuit.
"He's a brilliant player," said Barneveld. "I've played him twice on the tour and we've got one win each. He's a heavy scorer and I'm looking forward to this game."
Seven-time major champion James Wade faces fellow left-hander Shane Tichowitsch, the Bundaberg thrower who is currently second on the Australian Grand Prix rankings.
2013 World Grand Prix finalist Dave Chisnall opens up against qualifier Damon Heta, while World Series of Darts debutant Stephen Bunting - the reigning Lakeside Champion - has drawn another new face from the DPA circuit, John Weber.
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