Luke Littler says Michael van Gerwen will be eyeing revenge in their Saturday night blockbuster at the Dutch Darts Masters.

The Nuke and The Green Machine are on last-eight collision course after both won their opening ties in Den Bosch. Littlerhad to scrap to get the better of Dimitri Van den Bergh in a hard-fought 6-3 success. The World Champion, who turned 18 this week, had to hit key shots at big moments to take care of the battling Belgian and avoid a first-ever opening-hurdle defeat in the World Series.

Littler beat MVG to win the World title and said: "I think Michael, he will be thinking he wants revenge, especially in his backyard. It'd be good to beat him to guarantee a semi-final." Van Gerwen had less stress as he easily dismantled countryman Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-1 to sail into the quarters and set up the cracker.

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MVG is defending the crown on home soil and will have a boisterous Dutch support on his side which will be a role reversal from Ally Pally. But he said: “I think Luke is a player with quality enough to deal with those circumstances. I have to deal with them, so I think he can as well.”

The Green Machine crushed his compatriot and added: “Dirk was a tough draw and I am happy. I did the right things at the right moments and that’s what you need. There’s more to get, but you can’t be too critical and I feel comfortable. I felt relaxed.”