Sheffield hosts the final league night on twenty two May and the steel city is braced for a blockbuster as Luke Humphries and Luke Littler collide in a match many believe is a preview of the O two final. Both have already secured play off spots but first place carries bragging rights and the two hundred thousand pound league leaders bonus that comes with it.

Littler enters with five nightly titles and a wrenching one hundred and fourteen seasonal three dart average on quarter final stages. Humphries counters with superior consistency having reached eleven semi finals from fifteen starts and topping the checkout table at fifty two percent. Their head to head stands three apiece this year after Humphries edged a last leg thriller in Manchester and Littler responded with victory in Liverpool eight days later.

The Utilita Arena has never sold out so fast. All fourteen thousand tickets vanished in four minutes and resale prices are nearing three hundred pounds. PDC officials have installed additional cameras to capture crowd reaction angles and Sky Sports plans to trial new on screen ball trajectory graphics during the showpiece quarter final.

Away from the headline act the evening still carries weight for Michael van Gerwen Nathan Aspinall and Gerwyn Price who jostle for the final two play off berths. Should results go against them Littler or Humphries could face a semi final with a hometown hero desperate to extend the season.

But all eyes will lock on the battle of the Lukes. The teenager seeks to become the first player to top the league phase in consecutive seasons since Van Gerwen at his pomp. Humphries yearns for a statement victory that would cement his world number one status. The roar when they stride to the oche may well be heard across the Peak District and the result will shape the narrative heading to London.