THE NIA is preparing itself to play host to the world's best darts players, as the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts returns to Birmingham tomorrow.

Legendary 15-time World Champion Phil 'The Power' Taylor heads up the eight-player field for the Premier League, which reaches the seventh night of 14 staged around the UK during the weekly rounds.

Tickets for the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts at The NIA in Birmingham on Thursday 25 March are still available, priced at £20 plus booking and transaction fees and on sale on 0844 338 8000 or online at theticketfactory.com

Taylor will take on his Stoke rival Adrian Lewis at The NIA in Birmingham tomorrow, in one of the highest-profile games of the season, as the 25-year-old bids to take his first televised win over the world number one.

The friendly rivalry between the pair has been building since before last week's round in Brighton, where Taylor told Lewis he had "no chance" of beating him when they meet.

"He's a very good player and if you catch him on the right day he can beat anybody, as we all can," said Taylor. "If you're not on song in this tournament you will get beaten by anybody, but I'm not worried about Adrian - I'm excited!

"I think he is, because it's a big match and we're going to enjoy it. It's going to be buzzing and hopefully plenty of fans from Stoke will come down too."

The duo used to practice together in Stoke and remain good friends - but Lewis admits that will end once they step onto the oche at The NIA.

"He's already started the banter," said Lewis. "He was saying he will beat me 8-0 before I'd even played Ronnie Baxter in Brighton last Thursday!

"At the end of the day, if anyone's going to win the game 8-0 it will be me beating him 8-0! If someone's going to beat him then I think I'm the man to do it."

The meeting between Taylor and Lewis will be the fourth of the night at The NIA in front of the Sky Sports cameras, with 2009 Premier League runner-up Mervyn King's clash with World Championship finalist Simon Whitlock, from Australia, opening the evening.

Reigning Premier League champion James Wade is in action against Ledbury-based Terry Jenkins in the second game, before five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld takes on Ronnie Baxter.

"The Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts is the most exciting show in the sport and it's easy to see why 80,000 fans across the country will watch the event live this season when you look at the players involved," said PDC Chairman Barry Hearn.

"The four games in Birmingham on Thursday are mouth-watering fixtures and will culminate in the fierce local rivalry between Phil Taylor and Adrian Lewis, which I'm sure is a game all Midlands darts fans will relish."