"Calibre-wise, he's probably the guy you'd want to draw" - Jeff Smith confident ahead of Van Barneveld tie at the World Series of Darts Finals

Jeff Smith will be one of twenty-four players in action in Amsterdam on September 15-17 for the World Series of Darts Finals. The Canadian has a tricky first-round tie against Raymond van Barneveld to look forward to but Smith is confident.

"I'm happy with who I'm playing, where I'm playing them might be a kick in the teeth! He's obviously a pioneer for darts in Holland and it's going to be a very tough game with the crowd support and whatnot. But calibre-wise, he's probably the guy you'd want to draw out of the twenty-four there," 'the Silencer' tells Tungsten Tales.

"If I can play my game and hold it together I'll definitely be a threat," continues Smith who reached the final of a World Series event earlier this year at the US Darts Masters before losing 8-0 to Michael van Gerwen in Madison Square Gardens.

Playing a former five-time world champion is never an easy task but doing so in front of what will surely be a raucous AFAS Live in Amsterdam, packed full of the 'Barney Army' it's a challenge made even tougher. "I don't know if you've even seen the videos of Premier League nights but I'm assuming it will be similar," says Smith. "He is one of the legends of the game."

"It's great for me to get back on that stage again. New York was great for me, against some pretty worthy opponents and you've just got to take the positives and keep moving forward," he concludes. "I've got an opportunity here to make some more money and I intend to do so."