Mardle looks ahead to Cross against Anderson at Premier League in Dublin: "Cross is hanging on by his fingertips. It looks an effort for him"

Mardle admitted that from his perspective Cross is not playing well and that it all looks like too much of an effort for him when he plays.

He added though that Anderson isn't exactly at his best right now but that in the fine margins, it is 'The Flying Scotsman' he is picking for victory.

"I sound like I'm repeating myself every week but Cross is struggling, he really is. Last week, he was being massively outplayed by Peter Wright and Peter had to break in the last leg to get the win. Cross is hanging on by his fingertips. It looks an effort for him," said Mardle to Sky Sports.

"Anderson changed his darts last week. I didn't think he threw them very well at all when he lost to Glen Durrant but I just think he's playing a bit better than Cross right now.

Gary has made the Play-Offs six out of eight times in his career and I think it's going to be hard to keep him out this year."