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Premier League darts: Night four schedule and preview as top dogs Price and Wright do battle

The fourth week of Premier League darts sees the top two in the world collide as world champion Peter Wright takes on world number one Gerwyn Price in Exeter.

There's absolutely no doubt what Thursday's headline act is with the top dogs in the darts yard fighting it out at Westpoint Exeter, but as always it's a high-class card throughout.

Defending champion Jonny Clayton tackles five-time winner Michael van Gerwen, while World Darts Championship finalist Michael Smith faces in-form Joe Cullen.

Last but not least, there's a battle of former winners as veterans Gary Anderson and James Wade fight it out in the final match of the quarter-finals.

Night four order of play

Jonny Clayton 19:10 Michael van Gerwen
Michael Smith 19:40 Joe Cullen
Gerwyn Price 20:10 Peter Wright
James Wade 20:40 Gary Anderson
Semi-finals will start at around 21:10 GMT, while the final is expected to take place at 22:15 GMT.

Gerwyn Price vs Peter Wright

Only one place to start though, and that's with Gerwyn Price, the world number one, facing Peter Wright, the world champion who is targeting top spot in the rankings.
Snakebite can't get any help here as the Premier League carries no ranking points, but it's a chance to lay down a marker and get some revenge after he was beaten by the Welshman in Sunday's International Darts Open final.

That win continued an eye-catching run of form from The Iceman, who threw two stunning nine-darters during his win in Belfast last week - while also adding a 170 checkout for good measure. Throwing one nine-darter is special, two in one night is a once in a lifetime achievement.

Wright started the tournament with a victory in Cardiff and he joins Price in second place on seven points in the Premier League table, showing that it couldn't be closer between the two.

Just to illustrate the point further, it's 5-5 over the last 10 meetings between the duo.

Jonny Clayton vs Michael van Gerwen

Defending champion Jonny Clayton tops the Premier League standings after losing in the week one final and winning in week two.
He lost his first match last week to James Wade and now faces a tough opener against five-time winner Van Gerwen.

MVG has only won two matches in this year's tournament though, and was beaten by Clayton in the semis as the Welshman captured the win in Liverpool in week two.

Clayton has a decent recent record against the Dutchman too with seven wins in the last 10 matches, and after an early exit in the International Darts Open, Van Gerwen is struggling a bit for form.

Michael Smith vs Joe Cullen

Michael Smith is clearly suffering something of a World Championship hangover after being beaten in the final at Alexandra Palace by Peter Wright.
Bully Boy is rock bottom of the Premier League table after failing to win a match in three weeks, winning just nine legs when losing to Price, Clayton and Wright.
Facing Joe Cullen should be an easier task on paper, but Cullen is in fine form having won the Masters just to get into the Premier League.

That sparked something in Rockstar, who then won back-to-back Players Championship events on the Pro Tour with 14 wins on the spin.

Cullen has also made one final, in Liverpool, where he pushed Clayton all the way so he'll arguably be the favourite going into this one.

James Wade vs Gary Anderson

Two veterans close out the quarter-finals with 2009 winner James Wade facing two-time champion Gary Anderson in a battle of the veterans.
Wade will defend his UK Open title this weekend and after making last week's final in Belfast he'll be hoping to go one better.

Anderson hasn't backed up his semi-final run at the World Championship and has managed just one win in the Premier League.

Wade has the much better form in this competition and will fancy his chances of making the semis at least in Exeter.

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