The two Premier League newcomers go head-to-head in Newcastle on Thursday night in an all or nothing encounter which could see one of them grab a place in the end of season play-offs.
Few would have predicted that Andy Hamilton and Kevin Painter would both be in with a chance of making the play-offs come the final week, but the gritty debutants have taken the tournament in their stride and still have it all to play for.
Both currently stand on 11 points and must win and rely on other results if they are to sneak in the coveted play-offs. The loser however would stand an outside chance of being relegated to the foot of the table should Gary Anderson, defeat Phil Taylor later in the evening.
The pair have produced a rich vein of form at the business end of the campaign to keep their qualification hopes alive and both will feel they have what it takes to make it through.
Painter stunned Adrian Lewis with a terrific 8-3 victory last week and has taken five points from a possible six over his last three games.
Hamilton's 'never say die' attitude has shone through this season and the world finalist has gone four weeks without a defeat, ending a run of three straight draws with an 8-4 hammering of Simon Whitlock in Birmingham.
The duo have met 15 times in major competition dating back to 2004 and it's The Hammer who holds the better record, having taken nine wins over the Artist, including two 6-3 victories in recent Pro Tour events.
Daventry thrower Painter will be hoping to replicate his 8-5 success in their first league fixture in March, but like Hamilton, knows that even maximum points may not be enough.
There is nothing to choose between them and the bookmakers struggle to pick a winner, but for the 14th time this season, make Painter the outsider at 13/10, pricing Hamilton at 11/10 for victory. The draw is a realistic 9/2 chance also with
Bet365.
The match gets underway at 8.00pm GMT and will be streamed live over the best of 14 legs from the Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle.
Match permutations
Kevin Painter - A draw may be enough to win a Play-Off place, if Lewis and either Wade or van Barneveld lose. A win, though, may not even be enough to overhaul Lewis and Wade/Barneveld depending on other results.
Andy Hamilton - Must defeat Painter and hope that the Wade-Barneveld game ends in a draw
As it stands
P W D L +/- LWAT Pts
Phil Taylor (Q) 13 11 1 1 +51 37 23
Simon Whitlock (Q)13 6 2 5 -3 27 14
Adrian Lewis 13 4 4 5 -6 25 12
James Wade 13 5 2 6 -6 23 12
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Raymond van Barneveld13 4 4 5 -11 27 12
Kevin Painter 13 5 1 7 -5 30 11
Andy Hamilton13 3 5 5 -7 23 11
Gary Anderson (E)13 3 3 7 -13 27 9
