MICHAEL Smith’s fine performances over the course of last year have finally earned him a place in the Betway Premier League in 2016 alongside fellow St Helener Dave Chisnall, who has retained his spot for a third time.

Unfortunately, it will be at the expense of Windle’s Stephen Bunting, who is dropped from the line-up after just one year in the prestigious competition.

But after years of hammering on the door Smith’s rise to eighth in the world rankings, a storming run to the Grand Slam of Darts semi-finals and his part in a thrilling World Championship quarter-final has been rewarded with a coveted place in the £700,000 event, where the elite darts players face each other weekly at the huge arenas across Britain, Ireland and Holland.

The Clock Face thrower’s enormous season is underlined by his second ranking in floor performances in 2015, but there were other factors in his inclusion in the Premier League.

Smith said: “It is about time I got in! But the difference is in my head really.

“It is about keeping my cool – and they did not put me in last year because they did not think I could handle the big stage with my attitude. So it has been about putting that right this year.

“Getting to the World quarters and the Grand Slam semis made the point for me getting in.

“My floor form has been up there with the best, but it was always a case of doing it on TV.

“This takes me to the big stage now and that is definitely going to help my game now.”

Smith, who can still be found with his toe on the oche every day locally either at St Anne’s or Our Lady’s, will have to change his routine.

But it is one he is relishing.

“I am just looking forward to getting on stage and doing what I love doing, playing darts on telly instead of playing in the local league on a Thursday night, with the darts on in the background and me saying ‘I should be there.’

“It is the first time the Premier League has been made up of the top 10 ranked. I will probably be one of the favourites to get relegated, but there is no pressure - I will go there to do my best.

“There are more positives than negatives, but I won’t see my baby as much but on the other side of that, this is what I am doing it for,” he said.

This will be the biggest arena Smith has played in front of, and although that will be a challenge it is one he is relishing.

“I have had a taste of it when I played in front of 12,000 at the O2 at the Youth Worlds, but I am looking forward to the crowds and the bigger parties and hopefully they don’t keep singing the Yaya Toure song.”

Reigning champion Gary Anderson, world number one Michael van Gerwen, Adrian Lewis and champion Phil Taylor are the automatic selections for the event.

The 2014 Premier League champion Raymond van Barneveld, World Grand Prix winner Robert Thornton, former Premier League champion James Wade and Peter Wright complete the ten-player field, with the season set to begin on Thursday, February 4 at the First Direct Arena in Leeds.

The bottom two players are eliminated following Week Nine’s Judgement Night.

The remaining eight battle for play-off places, with Rotterdam’s Ahoy Arena hosting a league night for the first time before the semi-finals and final take place at The O2 in London on Thursday May 19.