Grand Slam of Darts day four schedule and preview

After Monday's drama, day four of the Grand Slam of Darts promises to provide yet more thrills. Eight players progressed and eight were eliminated after yesterday's action. Today, the same will happen again. The group stage comes to a close with Groups A-D concluding with eight mouth-watering matches. Three former champions look to secure top spot in their respective groups at the Wolves Civic. Meanwhile, some top names will be looking to avoid an early exit. The BDO contingent are playing for pride, but lesser-known PDC stars could seal a knockout spot. Play begins at 7pm GMT. Former Lakeside world champion Webster will fancy his chances against Dutchman Noppert. Yet everything is in the balance. 'Webby' could win and still go out, or lose and still go through. He will fancy his chances against Group D whipping-boy Noppert, who struggled against Daryl Gurney and Darren Webster. If both Websters win 5-2, Mark would face a nine-dart shootout against Gurney. Webster knows a defeat is unlikely to be enough, unless Danny Noppert does him a huge favour. The diminutive PDC star cannot gift 'Superchin' as many chances as he did Mark Webster. Gurney will secure a likely clash with Robbie Green, should he win this one. Even if he did lose, it would have to be by three legs or more for Darren Webster to overtake him. Winning Group D would probably mean avoiding Phil Taylor - an attractive proposition. There might not have been a more nailed-on win so far. Van Gerwen, the defending back-to-back Grand Slam champion, is already through. Murnan, meanwhile, was outclassed by both Rob Cross and Ross Montgomery. It isn't completely clear who 'Mighty Mike' would play in the first knockout round, but the Dutchman fears nobody. 'Shaggy' will simply be targeting avoiding a whitewash. Who will win the battle of Cross vs Ross? The PDC's breakout star is the massive favourite. Yet Montgomery will be a threat if he repeats his excellent average obtained against Joe Murnan. Cross' excellent scoring should see him clear, though he cannot miss important doubles as he did against Michael van Gerwen. Montgomery has to win by two clear legs or more to eliminate Cross. After coming so close to beating Phil Taylor, Green will want to make up for the defeat by thrashing Machin. A 5-2 win over the Aussie (or better) would eliminate James Wade before the former Grand Slam finalist takes to the Wolves Civic stage. BDO World Darts Trophy champion Machin is simply playing for pride, and could still be the kingmaker in Group C. A win for the 'Machine' would help his namesake an awful lot. The most successful player in Grand Slam history won't want to leave at the group stage. All Taylor needs to do is pick up three legs against Wade to secure safe passage to the next round. Taylor has a +2 leg difference advantage over Robbie Green, meaning a 5-1 victory for the Power would guarantee top spot, even if the Liverpudlian wins 5-0. Price may have surrendered a chance to win Group B with defeat to Raymond van Barneveld, but there could still be a chance. The Welshman would have to win, and by at least a couple of legs more than Steve Lennon, who would also have to be victorious. A likely clash with Phil Taylor awaits the 'Iceman'. Hughes, a local favourite, would love to at least pick up one win in front of his 'home' crowd. Youth meets experience in a pivotal Group B clash. Irishman Lennon was impressive in a 5-0 thrashing of Jamie Hughes, and needs to repeat the trick tonight. 'Barney' would guarantee top spot in the group with a 5-3 win. If he loses, the Dutch master cannot be absolutely assured of progression, depending on Gerwyn Price's preceding result. A Price defeat would mean Lennon and van Barneveld would both be through, meaning this meeting would only determine top spot in the group.