Taylor will be aiming to win the World Matchplay for the tenth time

Phil Taylor and Adrian Lewis have told BBC Radio Stoke that they are in good form ahead of the World Matchplay in Blackpool, which starts on Sunday.

Taylor, who is aiming for a tenth Matchplay title, said: "I'm getting better and I've raised the bar again.

"Besides myself, Raymond van Barneveld and James Wade, I don't think there's many more players that can win it."

Lewis added: "My scoring is good, I just need to improve my finishing. If I do that, I know I can win it."

Taylor, the current world number one, is in confident mood, having won the Las Vegas Desert Classic for the fifth time in his last competition, while Lewis had performed impressively before being defeated by Wade in the quarter-finals.

Lewis starts his World Matchplay campaign against Dutchman Co Stompe, while Taylor faces a difficult first round opponent in Robert Thornton.

The experienced Scot has enjoyed a good year after switching to the PDC from the BDO, and the 14-time world champion is expecting a testing encounter.

"He's no mug, but when I've had a tough first-round match, it's set me up for the rest of the tournament. I've know how to play him, and that's just to go out there and bash him up."

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