Dennis Priestley is confident he can avoid putting his supporters through the mill when he meets Andy Hamilton for a place in the quarter-finals of the Ladbrokes.com World Championship.

The 56-year-old almost had his hopes ended by Denmark's Per Laursen, who missed eight match darts to oust the veteran, but hit back and his vast experience on the big stage ultimately told.

However, the third seed made desperately hard work of his victory and knows he cannot perform as moderately against Hamilton if he is to repay his followers by reaching the last eight in Purfleet.

"I can play much better than I did against Laursen," said 'The Menace', a two-time former world champion from Mexborough.

"I was really disappointed with how I practised before that match. But I got away with it and today I might hit everything on the board in practice. Not everyone has Phil Taylor's consistency!

"I'm sure I'll compete again. What I have in my locker is that I will compete, dig in and never say die, and that's what makes a Yorkshireman."

When he was on the brink of defeat against Laursen it was clear to see the anguish on the faces of the legions of Priestley fans, led by his son Adam.

Naturally there was jubilation when he scraped through and the man who won the first Professional Darts Corporation world title 13 years ago would love to give the family more to cheer.

"The crowd have been absolutely fantastic," added Priestley, who has also lost four world finals to Taylor.

"I don't know whether they think they will back the old fellow and give him support. But if they keep doing it, geeing me on and encouraging me, then I've a great chance of going further."

Another man with the audience fully on his side is Raymond van Barneveld, recently voted the most popular darts player.

The Dutchman, who became the first man through to the quarter-finals with a whitewash of 19-year-old compatriot Rico Vonck, has acquired his own 'Barney Army' at the Circus Tavern.

He admitted he was unsure about the origins of the name, saying: "I've heard it's got something to do with cricket. I don't follow cricket at all - I don't even know how to play it."

The 39-year-old is much more adept with three arrows in his hand than a cricket bat or ball and remains the man most likely to deny Taylor a 14th world title.

Van Barneveld's average of 100.2 has only been surpassed during the tournament by Taylor and the holder's second-round opponent Mick McGowan, who between them put on an awesome spectacle.

When asked about Taylor's average of 109 against McGowan, Van Barneveld said: "Was that with three darts or four?

"It's unbelievable to do that when your opponent has hit 10 180s. That's world class."

In tomorrow's quarter-finals Van Barneveld will face St Helens qualifier Alan Tabern, who was taken to a seventh set by 'Diamond' Dave Askew but emerged the 4-3 winner.