Luke Humphries admits he has entered a pivotal phase of his Premier League title defence, with his fate still in his own hands despite the mounting pressure to keep his play-off hopes alive.
Humphries is the defending Premier League champion but currently sits in sixth place in the table on 11 points. Gian van Veen is fifth on 12 points, with Michael van Gerwen clinching the fourth Play-Off spot.
The world No 2 is yet to win a night in this year's Premier League, with Luke Littler having won three while Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton have won two each, and Stephen Bunting has won one.
Humphries is not out of the running to make Finals Night in London next month and returns to the arena in Brighton on Thursday where he hit a magical nine-darter against Rob Cross last year.
So far, four-time semi-finalist Humphries has made it to the final just once on Night Six in Nottingham where he was beaten 6-1 by Clayton, who he opens the Night 11 action against in Brighton.
It's a game which has taken on added significance for Humphries, who has entered a campaign-defining period of the Premier League.
"It's a game I probably have to win," he told reporters. "It's probably getting to the point of no return, where you can't really be losing games in the first round.
"You can leave it too late. I don't really have to win the night, I just have to keep winning that first game and maybe win one night at least. That seems to be the way it's going for me this year, I've got to try and creep in there."
Clayton, meanwhile, had won his opening match for six straight weeks but has since surrendered a seven‑point lead in the competition, slipping to third as a result.
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"He kept berating himself way too often (in Manchester), every time he missed a treble actually, which is not like him. I didn't like that.
"I don't know if he is feeling under pressure or feeling he should be winning but when he is at it he will win.
"It's not time to push the panic button. It's still in his hands."
Price, who recorded averages of 104.5, 112.9 and 105.8 over Van Gerwen, Bunting and Van Veen to blast to glory in Manchester, is targeting to move top of the table.
The 41-year-old returns to Brighton having lost his opening match in the last two years, although he claimed the nightly win in 2023 - the same year he finished runner-up of the Premier League.
"It's nice to be second," reflected Price, who will face a resurgent Josh Rock in his opening tie of the evening. "I just want to pick up two points every week.
"We probably all look at the table. It's in every player's head.
"I think everyone's still in with a chance, even Josh if he wins a couple. He's got a bit of confidence now."
The BetMGM Premier League season continues with Night 10 in Brighton, as Van Gerwen takes on Van Veen, in an all-Dutch showdown.
Humphries and Clayton go head to head in the evening's opener, Price faces Rock, while Littler and Bunting lock horns in the quarter-finals.
Ranking points are awarded per night - with five to the winner, three to the runner-up and two to the semi-finalists - to form the league table from which the top four players will progress to Finals Night at The O2 in London on Thursday May 28.
Who will win this year's Premier League Darts? Luke Humphries will be defending his title and you can watch the action every single Thursday until May on Your Site. .
