Luke Littler says he is expecting “fireworks” when he takes on Josh Rock in the quarter-finals of the Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton.
The pair’s last meeting in a major was a memorable World Matchplay semi-final, when Littler produced a nine-darter on the way to an extraordinary 17-14 victory, fighting back with 10 consecutive legs.
Despite Rock not being at his best in his last-16 win over Connor Scutt — averaging just 89 — Littler expects the Northern Irishman to raise his level for their rematch.
“Yes, 100 per cent (there will be fireworks),” Littler said. “Obviously, Josh played nowhere near his best. 89 average, that isn’t Josh. But, obviously, if he sees that, he’s going to absolutely kick himself and he’s got to be up for it.
“Because I’m always up for a good game, especially Josh, and hopefully I can go into a 5-0 lead and not 5-0 like the match play.”
Littler stressed that, while they get on off the oche, they are competitors once on stage. “I think no one is friends on stage and you’re on your own up there. You’ve got to do your job. But backstage we’ll always chat, we’ll always have a laugh. But once we’re on stage then we are enemies and we’ve got to do our job.”
Both players are now with Target, which Littler said makes their relationship straightforward offstage: “Josh has been on Tour longer than me, but we’ve always had a relationship as mates. Now he’s joined Target and I’m with Target, so it makes it all very easy. We’re all Target players and we’re all in the same competitions. We are always going to talk to each other. It’s just nice. But once we’re on stage, we’re enemies.”
On the hunt for world No 1, Littler knows a place in the Grand Slam final would secure the top spot and says he is chasing “absolutely everything.” “If someone plays their best darts, they might catch me but tonight felt very good. I have my eyes on everything, the title, world No 1,” he added. “I know if I get to the final I’ll be world No 1, so I’m taking it game by game and hopefully Josh and I can have another good game like the Matchplay.”