HAVING taken the World Darts Championships by storm before Christmas, Warrington’s teenage sensation Luke Littler is back in action tonight.

The former Padgate Academy student’s third-round clash with Canada’s Matt Campbell opens the evening session at Alexandra Palace as he looks to reach the tournament’s last 16.

It would represent quite a debut for the 16-year-old, but there are plenty talking up his chances of going all the way in the tournament.

Indeed, tournament sponsors Paddy Power rate him as a 10-1 fifth-favourite to lift the Sid Waddell Trophy, and they have him odds-on at 3-10 to beat Campbell this evening having beaten Christian Kist and reigning UK Open champion Andrew Gilding to get this far.

“If my A-game is there I don’t see why not, but I have just got to beat what is in front of me,” Littler said of his chances of winning.

“Loads of people are expecting me to win it, I am just happy to have won my first game.

“When I got back to the hotel after beating Christian Kist I said ‘let’s try and come back after Christmas’ and that’s what I have done, so I have overachieved this year.

“It is just unbelievable, I can’t wait to come back. Being on stage has been amazing and I’ve loved the support, it’s unbelievable.”

Littler is also lining up a meeting with one of his heroes – Dutchman Raymond van Barneveld – in the fourth round, and the two would meet should both win their respective matches.

2007 world champion “Barney” faces Welshman Jim Williams on Friday afternoon.

“I always looked up to Phil Taylor, Barney and Michael van Gerwen. It would be unbelievable to play one of those two,” Littler.

“It would be a weird one, who the crowd would support, me or Barney or me or Van Gerwen, but I have just got to beat what is in front of me and hopefully I can meet one of those in the later stages.”

Littler vs Campbell is expected to get underway at around 7.15 this evening and will be shown live on Sky Sports Darts.

Campbell caused one of the tournament's biggest shocks thus far when he knocked 18th seed James Wade out in his last outing.