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Battle of table-topping Michaels, Smith and van Gerwen
TABLE-toppers Michael van Gerwen and Michael Smith clash as the Unibet Premier League visits Glasgow on Thursday, where Gary Anderson and Peter Wright hope to boost their battles against elimination on home soil.
The Premier League's top two players, Van Gerwen and Smith, will clash at The SSE Hydro in a bid to move two points clear at the head of the table following seven matches.
The pair's only previous Premier League meeting had seen Van Gerwen set a world record average of 123.40 in Aberdeen in 2016, and the Dutchman is aiming to assert his dominance over the early-season pace-setter.
"I always have good games against Michael," said Van Gerwen, who moved top on leg difference last week following a fourth straight win. "It's going to be a tough one also for him because he did well up to now.
"I'm going to stop him and he knows I want to. He's a good player and it's about time it comes out because he's a phenomenal talent.
"I know I can raise my game a lot more but I'm winning and that's the most important thing. It's a tough schedule ahead but I'm top of the table and I only want to be at the top."
Smith won his opening four matches and bounced back to winning ways with a 7-1 demolition of Wright last week - but insists that facing the world number one will be a true test of his form.
"This game and the game against Gary Anderson were the two I was looking forward to when I got back in the Premier League," said Smith. "I love playing Michael.
"He's one of the nice lads, we have a laugh but when we're playing he gets on with the game. He believes in his ability, the way I do, and hopefully there will be some fireworks this week.
"It could go six-all and be over in ten minutes with how quick it is, but I'm really looking forward to that game.
"I know I'm playing okay, and you want to play the best players in the world to see what else you need to improve on. I'll know that if I lose what I need to work on."