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Michael van Gerwen will be keen to maintain his red hot form when he returns to action on night six of the Premier League. The world No 1 currently leads the Premier League table, but Phil Taylor or Peter Wright could snatch top spot if Mighty Mike slips up in Nottingham, live on Sky Sports.Defending champion Gary Anderson, Adrian Lewis and Raymond van Barneveld will also be battling for precious points this Thursday. Michael Smith v Gary Anderson Gary Anderson was below his best in last weeks win over Robert Thornton After winning his world title, Anderson has fallen short of his usual high standards and endured a humbling defeat to amateur Barry Lynn at the UK Open.The Scotsmans schedule has been unrelenting since he recovered from the virus which forced him to miss night one and he laboured to victory against Robert Thornton last week. In contrast, Michael Smith appears to be finding his feet in the competition and picked up a morale boosting maiden win over Van Barneveld on night five.Peter Wright v Adrian Lewis Peter Wright suffered two defeats to Michael van Gerwen last week Wright was twice thwarted by Van Gerwen within a few days, as he was knocked off top spot by the Dutchman in the Premier League, then lost to his rival in the final of Sundays UK Open. Last weekends loss means Snakebite is still searching for his first major title, but he has emerged as a genuine title contender and sits in third place in the Premier League ahead of his latest meeting with Lewis.Jackpot averaged just 93 in a humbling 7-1 defeat to Taylor last week and the enigmatic Lewis could produce a spirited response. Raymond van Barneveld v James Wade James Wade will be hoping to build on his win over Dave Chisnall Wade returned to winning ways on night five as he closed out an impressive 7-4 victory over Dave Chisnall.With a record of three wins and three defeats, Wade is yet to find any consistency, but is still capable of match changing moments such as his 161 checkout against Chisnall. James Wade completed a sizzling 161 checkout on the bullseye in his match against Dave Chisnall. Van Barnevelds campaign appears to be heading in the wrong direction as he has lost three of his last four matches, including last weeks lacklustre defeat to Smith.Robert Thornton v Phil Taylor Phil Taylor has picked up four straight wins in the Premier League Van Gerwens headline stealing displays have overshadowed Taylors recent revival and he has quietly moved into second place in the standings.The Power handed out a ruthless lesson in finishing to former protege Lewis in the Premier League and then reached the semi-finals of the UK Open, losing to eventual winner Van Gerwen. Taylor was not interested in inflicting a painful whitewash defeat on Adrian Lewis after beating him 7-1 Thorntons wretched run continued last week, with the 48-year-old suffering another Premier League defeat to fellow- Scot Anderson, just days before he was ousted by Arron Monk in the early stages of the UK Open. Dave Chisnall v Michael van Gerwen Van Gerwen added his sixth title at the UK Open Van Gerwen has set new standards this year, recording the highest average in a televised match on night four, and Sky Sports pundits debated whether the Dutch ace could be considered as the best player ever.He produced another virtuoso performance at the UK Open, which saw him hit a nine-darter and four 170 checkouts on the way to retaining his title. Van Gerwen produced another inspired performance to take top spot on night five of the Premier League in Exeter Chisnall badly needs a positive result to spark his season into life as his only win came on the opening night. Watch this Thursday nights Premier League matches from 7pm on Sky Sports 1. Or watch for £6.99 without a contract, live on NOW TV. Also See: WATCH: Is MVG the best ever? PL Darts talking points Masterful MVG retains title MVG too hot for Wright Hakeem Olajuwon Rockets Jersey . -- Charlie Graham stopped 67 shots as the Belleville Bulls edged the visiting Guelph Storm 6-5 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. James Harden Rockets Jersey .C. -- Charlotte Bobcats coach Steve Clifford said after all of these years in the NBA hes still amazed at some of the things LeBron James does. http://www.therocketsofficial.com/Authentic-Eric-Gordon-Rockets-Jersey/ . Numbers Game examines the deal that sees Michael Del Zotto and Kevin Klein switch places. The Predators Get: D Michael Del Zotto. James Harden Jersey . -- Whether Jeremy Hill deserves a prominent role in LSUs offence this early in the season is a matter for debate. Clint Capela Jersey . Following a lopsided 5-2 loss against the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night, Paul MacLean told reporters that "theres a lack of focus, theres a lack of leadership and theres a lack of preparation" with his struggling team. That came on the heels of Bryan Murray taking the unusual step of going into the locker room at the Prudential Center and addressing the players himself. ARLINGTON, Va. -- Just because its early in the season doesnt mean its too early for Barry Trotz to shake things up.His Washington Capitals are 9-4-1 despite some inconsistent play, but that didnt stop the veteran NHL coach from making wholesale line changes. Superstar Alex Ovechkin practiced Monday on a line with former fourth-line center Jay Beagle, and the rest of the lineup was about as jumbled as it could get.Ovechkin doesnt have a point in three games, but it was a 5-1 loss at Carolina on Saturday that prompted Trotz to take action.I dont think its to wake up Ovi, Beagle said. Just the team in general to kind of shake things up.Trotz explained it as a way to generate a combination of will and skill on every line. Will over skill is the teams motto, a year after winning the Presidents Trophy and losing to the Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round.With Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and Evgeny Kuznetsov around, the Capitals dont lack for skill. Trotz put the three all-stars on three separate lines in preparation for a road game Tuesday at the Columbus Blue Jackets.Ovechkin said players accept Trotzs decisions and that he and Beagle have some chemistry since theyve been put together a few times in recent years.Its always going to be changing and moving around the bodies, said Ovechkin, who has seven ggoals and four assists.dddddddddddd I think its a regular, normal thing.Backstrom, Beagle and others consider it something of a wake-up call, given that Washington has lost two of three and not been on top of its game lately.I feel like especially the top players, including myself, weve got to get going here, said Backstrom, whos centering leading scorer Marcus Johansson and T.J. Oshie. Weve got to start playing better. Weve just got to be better. We have to create more chances, produce more and help the team out a little more.Beagle has been helping plenty and is surprisingly fourth on the team in goals. The defensive-minded grinder plays the kind of straightforward style previous coach Adam Oates wanted to see more from with Ovechkin, and that could have something to do with Trotzs thinking.Theyve got a lot of skill and theyve got a lot of will, Trotz said of Ovechkin and Beagle. Hopefully they can help each other -- that combination of someone getting pucks, someone shooting pucks, someone helping along, all that stuff. That line should be fine. All the lines have a unique quality to them. I just think theres a balance there.---Follow Stephen Whyno on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/SWhyno . ' ' '