The possibility of being seeded through to the second round of the biggest tournament in darts will be the additional carrot dangling before Martin Lukeman when he takes on the hottest name in the sport on Friday.

The Watford thrower is preparing to compete in the first round of the Players Championship Finals at Butlin's Minehead Resort in the last event to be played before next month’s World Darts Championship.

The 38-year-old is currently ranked 34th in the PDC Order of Merit, which is based on prize money won over a two-year period in ranking tournaments.

Lukeman knows that if he does well this weekend, he could force himself into the top-32 and be seeded through to the second round at Alexandra Palace. However, he must first get past the player arguably recognised as the best in the world currently.

“It’s a toughie,” Lukeman admitted of the prospect of facing Luke Humphries in the first round, “but I’d rather get him early than late.”

Lukeman was speaking to the Watford Observer before the world No. 4 won his second major title in as many months at the weekend, adding the Grand Slam of Darts to the World Grand Prix crown he claimed in October.

The two men have previously met in the 2022 German Darts Grand Prix, when Humphries won 8-2 in what was his opponent’s maiden appearance in a PDC European Tour Final.

It may be a tough draw but Lukeman, who is in his third year as a professional, was feeling confident. “I feel good,” he said. “I’m playing really well.”

After this weekend’s event, Lukeman’s focus can switch to preparing for a second taste of the biggest tournament in the sport – and it’s a prospect he’s relishing.

“It was brilliant, I loved it,” he said of his World Championship debut last year. “I definitely want another crack at it.

"I’ve got a big year next year, I’m defending a lot of money. I’ve done alright this year. I’ve not done great but I’ve done what I had to do.

“I’m in the Grand Prix, I’m just outside the Matchplay [two of the other televised ranking events] so if I can have a good start to next year I’ll be back in those big competitions and be able to defend my money.”

Asked what he’d learnt from his first experience of competing at Alexandra Palace where he beat Nobuhiro Yamamoto before losing to Martin Schindler in the second round, he said: “The preparation. Getting there at the right time. I thought it was going to be the same as all the other stages but it’s different. That and the Matchplay are different. I don’t know if it was the atmosphere or the way the crowds were or what.

“Martin Schindler played well, he beat me, I didn’t really turn up but I want another crack at that and I’m getting it.”

In order to give himself the best chance of performing well at the World Championships, Lukeman is intending to get as much match practice as possible beforehand.

He said: “I want to do as many open competitions as I can – Super League, county – I’m going to get as match practice as I can because I found when I practice indoors I keep picking up bad habits, so I’d rather go out and have a match with someone because I keep rushing my darts upstairs on my own.

“It’s a bit weird, it’s not working for me anymore, so that’s why I’ve joined all these teams. I’m literally out four, five nights a week now practicing.”

Away from the board, Lukeman has started his own tropical fish breeding business and also buys, repairs and sells electronic games consoles to keep himself occupied. “If not I’d be sitting here watching TV all day and I can’t do that, I’ve got to keep myself busy,” he said. “There’s only so many darts you can throw in a day.”

Throwing darts is the former banksman’s profession though, and if he does well next year and is able to defend the prize money he won in 2022 when he also reached the quarter-finals of the World Grand Prix and the fourth round of the UK Open, he is targeting a place among the best players in the world.

“If I can get a good year next year and defend my money, the year after will be to get into that top-16,” Lukeman said of his ambitions.

“All darts takes is one competition and it’s a massive chain effect. You have a good European tour at the beginning and you’re in every single televised competition of the year.”