"I'll be ready for Chris Dobey": Josh Rock looking to send statement after Rhys Griffin opener

Josh Rock says he will be ready for Chris Dobey as he navigates one of his first PDC World Darts Championship forays without the pressure that was heaped on him two years ago.

Rock went from being the anointed son in similar terms to Luke Littler to poor TV form which saw many earmarking Rhys Griffin for victory but he got over the line and now returns after Christmas to face 'Hollywood'.

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"It was appalling. I wasn't great at all. I put myself under too much pressure. I really wanted to be here after Christmas as I put the practice hours in with Scott Williams, Rob Cross and Stowe Buntz. So I've been here a week, I'm happy Rhys didn't play his game and I got over the line," said Rock post match.

"It'll be a hell of a lot different after Christmas because obviously you're playing Chris Dobey one of the best players in the world. I'll be ready for Chris Dobey because I need to be. If I play like that, I have no chance but I'll be ready."

"If you look at my TV form, I'm nearly averaging 100 every single game but the people I've been playing have been averaging 100. So I just haven't had the luck. As long as I can keep hitting the doubles I'll be hard to beat."

"Me and Chris always have a good game. He hits a lot of 180's and I'll be ready to hit a lot of 180's."

He said that he sees an opportunity and that his main objective was just to be there after Christmas.

"The first game was probably the hardest game I've ever played because I put myself under that much pressure because I wanted to be here after Christmas. But I'm just grateful I got over the line."

"The way my TV form has been all year but I made sure that didn't happen, that's the main thing. It's a massive opportunity. I haven't looked how far it's going to go because everyone is going out but happy days."

But that he sees progress also from not being ranked to being outside the top 16 just and that he never expected any of it so it's all a bonus.

"I went from not being ranked to being ranked 18th in the world. I don't know what I'm ranked now after that win. But for what I've done for my own self belief is phenomenal as I didn't think I'd be here today to be where I am now."