LUKE Littler goes into this weekend’s World Series of Darts Finals as the number one seed – and he’s aiming to show exactly why.

Having won World Series tournaments in Bahrain and Poland this year, the Warringtonian teenager goes into this weekend’s tournament in Amsterdam among the favourites.

His campaign gets underway tonight against Ross Smith in the fifth of eight ties to be played on the opening night – the action gets underway at 6pm UK time and can be watched live on ITV4.

And he believes that alongside his opponent, he can provide some fireworks for the crowd.

"It's been great to be on the World Series this year," said Littler.

"I enjoyed Bahrain and won my first PDC title and then won in Poland, so it shows why I should be number one seed.

 "I'd love to win this one as the number one seed and go into the autumn with a win.

 "It's a high-quality field of players and I'm sure I'll have a good game against Ross - I think everyone knows me and Ross can hit as many 180s as anyone."

The two men have met twice this year with one win each, and whoever wins tonight’s clash will face either Dutch legend Raymond van Barneveld or Sweden’s Johan Engstrom in the second round tomorrow evening.

And while he insists he can go into his clash with Littler free from expectation, Smith admits he is facing “a different animal” in the 17-year-old.

“The pressure is all on Luke as far as I’m concerned, but he doesn’t seem to know pressure does he?” he said.

 “Luke is a different animal! I remember playing him quite a lot in online tournaments during lockdown. People were all talking about him then.

 “I’ve played him twice this season – once in a Players Championship event where I beat him, and then he gave me a good hiding on the European Tour, he played exceptionally well.

 “I’m just going up there to enjoy it. I’ve had a week of being a bit too serious and overthinking things. I know what I can do, and I know I've got to be on it.”

Following this weekend, Littler is confirmed to be in action in next week’s Players Championship tournaments in Wigan.

The 20th and 21st runnings of the ProTour events for this year will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday at Robin Park.