ROB CROSS admits that Luke Littler is looming up behind him in the rankings like Jack Nicholson in The Shining!
The 2018 world champion faces the teen sensation in the Players Championship on Friday in Minehead.
But Cross, 33, knows he needs to KO Littler to stop him getting overtaken in the Order of Merit. Voltage is No.4 with the Warrington wonderkid up to No.5 after winning the Grand Slam on Sunday.
Cross said: “It’s a tough draw for both of us I would say, certainly this early in the tournament.
“The result in the Grand Prix means absolutely nothing now. Luke will be buzzing that he won the Slam but I think he takes it all in his stride.
“Trouble is now for me he’s like roaring up behind me in the rankings. It feels like Jack Nicholson in The Shining peering through the curtain at me!”
The tie of the round clash has been dubbed the ‘Target derby’ with both players in the same darts stable.
In nine previous meetings, Littler has won seven including the World Championship semi-final in early January. But Cross won their last clash in the Grand Prix.
He added: “The boy is just awesome. I can’t say enough good things about him. He handles himself with such class.
“He wins a tournament, gets all the headlines, but he just strolls in like nothing has happened. He doesn’t get over-excited, he almost deals with it like MVG or Gary Anderson because they’ve won loads.
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“We have practised together at times and he’s got all the ability to win whatever he wants in the game.
“He’s got the world at his feet and now he’s just got to stay hungry to keep winning. That motivation will be the key, whether he wants to deal with the constant limelight.
“I had that after I won the Worlds in 2018, that year was a blur with media. But Luke is dealing with it with such ease, it’s scary really!
“It’s my job to beat him. I’ve done it before and I’m confident my game is there. I want more consistency but I know it’s coming.”
