Colin Osborne is set to put his family through another emotional ordeal when he bids for a place in the semi-finals of the Ladbrokes.com World Championship in Purfleet.

'The Wizard' is making his debut at the game's most prestigious event with nervous wife Sarah a familiar sight in the Circus Tavern crowd.

So far the shredded nerves have all been worthwhile, with Osborne having beaten three players ranked in the world's top 20 to secure a quarter-final against Andy Jenkins.

But the demeanours of the Derby-based couple are in complete contrast, for the world number 34 has looked calmness personified on stage during his impressive progress to the last eight.

"I just prepare in my own way, and if I'm around Sarah I can feel the tension she gives off," said Osborne, originally from Middlesbrough and who was once on the books of his home town's Barclays Premiership football club.

"She makes me nervous so I just go and do my own thing. Now she will have to come back and go through it all again.

"She's brilliant though, and so supportive. Things are going well at the moment but there have been times when I've thought about forgetting darts because I've a family to look after.

"But Sarah has pushed me 200% and wouldn't let me give up. She has said she would go out and do 20 jobs a day if it meant me carrying on playing darts."

Not present in Purfleet, however, are Osborne's two young sons, who are instead following their father on television.

"I've not seen the kids for a few days," he continued.

"Apparently when I played Wes Newton in the second round they wanted to get into the TV - they were crying and screaming at it."

Osborne's next opponent, Jenkins, is another player moving into unknown territory having reached the quarter-finals for the first time in 13 years competing at world championships.

The 35-year-old from Hampshire has been a real under-achiever in televised events and feels it is high time he started showing what he can do when in the spotlight.

"I think I should be getting to finals," said the world number 12. "I'm one of the most dangerous players in floor events and I just haven't produced it on TV."

Jenkins notched the best win of his career by beating fifth seed Adrian Lewis and admitted his approach is now more professional.

"I don't go out clubbing as much as I used to," said the man from Cosham, just outside Portsmouth. "And I'm practising a lot more - you have to with the younger players getting better and better."

All four quarter-finals take place today with Holland's Raymond van Barneveld, a four-time Lakeside world champion, kicking things off against St Helens qualifier Alan Tabern.

In the other matches 13-time world champion Phil Taylor takes on Darren Webster, while Terry Jenkins meets Andy Hamilton.