MICHAEL SMITH admits a win over World Champ Peter Wright would be a massive kick-start to his winter season.

The St.Helens ace could face a repeat of his World final against Snakebite in the Jack’s World Series of Darts Finals tomorrow night.

Wright plays Fallon Sherrock in his first round opener today and Smith wants a big run in Amsterdam.

He said: “I took last week off to have a few days practice. I think the World Series in Australia and New Zealand was too much like a holiday!

“It’s important to be in a good place at this time of the year. You can’t afford to be in a bad place, every week is a TV tournament. But I feel good, I’m practising well at the minute.”

Smith won the US Darts Masters back in June in the World Series which led to a wonderful run of wins.

Now he wants a similar boost of confidence as a very busy schedule approaches.

He added: “The Grand Prix is a different type of tournament for me but the season really starts then.

“It would be good to get a result in Amsterdam because after that there’s six more TV events in two months. So if you can get a win under your belt, a few good runs, it can set you up for a good few weeks leading up to the Worlds.

“It could set me up for a good weekend or it could be an early trip home. I just want to get there and get my A game going from the first leg.”

By Phil Lanning