Luke Littler is fully focused on racking up more points at the top of the Premier League table ahead of Night 11 in Birmingham, but Rob Cross is hoping to stop the teenager's unbeaten run.
Littler has won back-to-back Premier League nights in Belfast and Manchester to put himself in prime position to make the play-offs in May.
There are just six nights left of the season and he holds an eight-point buffer over fifth-placed Michael Smith on 23 points.
In the previous two Premier League seasons - after the format was changed in 2022 - 24 points was enough to make it through to the play-offs.
Luke Littler is fully focused on winning enough points to make it the play-offs
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Littler heads into Birmingham on Thursday night hoping to follow in the footsteps of Michael van Gerwen and Luke Humphries with a hat-trick of successive wins.
However, the 17-year-old has admitted that all he cares about is qualifying for the Premier League main event at the end of the season.
“I’m just going to keep plugging away,” Littler told the PDC.
“Every week I’m playing against players I have looked up to, and I just thrive off it.
“I’m in a good position, but until I see a little ‘q’ next to my name which means I’ve qualified, I’ve still got work to do.
“It would mean a lot to make it three in a row in Birmingham, but it’s all about picking up those points over the next few weeks and making the top four.”
Standing in Littler's way first on Thursday night is Cross, who has lost four Premier League matches in a row.
The 2018 world champion needs to pick up points quick to try and make it to the play-offs and feels confident he can get the job done against Littler.
Luke Littler is top of the Premier League table
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He said: "The Premier League can be brutal at times.
"I feel like I've let myself down over the last few weeks. I haven't played well enough by my standards, but one week can change everything, so I'm going to fight for everything now.
"I played some good darts on the ProTour this week and I found my game again, so I expect an improved showing.
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Rob Cross wants to stop Luke Littler's unbeaten run
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"Luke is fantastic for the game. He's won the last two weeks so it will be tough, but if I'm resilient I will buy myself a few chances, and if I take them, I believe I'll win."
The winner of the tie between Cross and Littler will go up against either Peter Wright or Luke Humphries in the semi-final.
The Premier League play-offs are held at the 02 on May 23.
