Thurnscoe darts player Brian Dawson says he will head to his third Lakeside World Championships in his most confident mood yet.

The 48-year-old has been 'happy' with his form in the build-up to the tournament but believes the experience of playing there twice in the past will help him. 'Doggy' Dawson made the last 16 at the 2016 event – 12 months after he shot up the rankings with a stunning run to the quarter-finals.

Since then he has secured a 12th-place ranking in the BDO, become Yorkshire captain and also represented England. Dawson maintains that winning the tournament is a realistic ambition and wants to at least go one better than the quarters at Frimley Green this time.

He told the Chronicle: "A bare minimum would be to make the semi-finals because then I get my invite back for the next year and I can pick and choose tournaments – knowing I don't have to qualify.  You also get invited to exhibitions the higher up you are in the rankings.  That would be nice.

"Confidence, I think, comes with experience. You get used to being on the big stage but I don't think I have ever performed at my best on television. It is hard to block it all out because the cameras are all around you and there are four million people watching around the country.

"My form is good. I am second in the County Premier League and second in the Yorkshire Super League and recently won the 32-man Sheffield Masters.  I wish I could have played at Lakeside a week or two ago but I have been going to little competitions because I want to go in having that winning mentality."

Dawson, who also plays for Keel in Barnsley and the Albert Road in West Melton, beat former world champion and Yorkshire team-mate John Walton last year in an opening round humdinger but says he put too much into that performance and will be more relaxed this year.

"I have learned that a rest is good for you. I put too much into that game with John and then didn't have enough in the Jeff Smith match. It is the preparation that counts the most. That is another thing that I have learned."

It looks likely that Dawson will be renewing old rivalries at Lakeside with Canadian Smith – who beat him last year – the favourite to go through a preliminary match against Japanese player Seigo Asada. A win would then likely set up a match against three-time world champion Martin Adams.

Dawson added: "I will have practiced every day apart from Christmas Day because I know that I have to bring my best game to the stage."

Dawson's opening round match is scheduled for 10pm on Monday with the tournament being broadcast by Channel Four and BT Sport.