Cross looking forward to opening England's World Cup of Darts campaign: "We want to get up there and put a big performance in"

Rob Cross will team up with Michael Smith as top seeds for this year's World Cup of Darts but as individual players, both haven't been at their best as of late.

Cross hopes to arrest that as England face the dangerous Phillippines duo of Lourence Ilagan and Noel Malicdem in one of the ties of the opening day at the Salzburgarena in Austria.

"It's amazing every time I get to represent England," said Cross. "It's going to be my third time this year and I'm really looking forward to it - it makes you very proud to represent your country.

"Both me and Michael have been missing a few doubles recently but I've been on the practice board a lot trying to correct it, and I reckon we can have a good run.

"The first night is maybe the most dodgy game because it's just a game of Pairs and a short format, but we want to get up there and put a big performance in because they're a dangerous pairing and we'll have to play really well."