Michael van Gerwen insists he has nothing to prove when he faces Gary Anderson in the Premier League on Thursday night. The world No 1 will go head-to-head with Anderson, the reigning world champion and Premier League title holder, on night 11 in Belfast, live on Sky Sports 1.Van Gerwen emerged with a convincing 7-3 win when the pair played earlier in the campaign and believes his recent title wins have justified his status as the top player in the sport. Its fantastic that he won those trophies because they are the most important ones, but at this moment its not about the past, its about the future. Michael van Gerwen on Gary Anderson Why do I need to make a statement? I think after the World Championship Im playing better darts at the moment, said Van Gerwen.I won the Masters, the UK Open, Im higher than him in the rankings and I just need to do my own thing.Its fantastic that he won those trophies because they are the most important ones, but at this moment its not about the past, its about the future. Gary Anderson has raised his game against Van Gerwen in the past Anderson is hoping to put his play-off push back on track after a 7-3 defeat to Phil Taylor and has suggested that Van Gerwen still has plenty of work to do if he wants to surpass the achievements of The Power.Last week, against Phil didnt go to plan but I always enjoy playing Michael, said Anderson. Hes pushing everyone else at the moment and hes been brilliant this year, theres no doubt about that.Hes a fantastic player and what hes doing on the dartboard at the moment is tremendous - but people have got to remember that Phil Taylors been doing this for 25 years or so. Michaels been doing this for two or three years so hes got a long way to go yet. Phil Taylor suffered an opening night defeat to Raymond van Barneveld Taylor has opened a three-point lead at the top of the table, but is wary of a backlash from Raymond van Barneveld.The Dutchman dished out a defeat to his old rival on night one, but has struggled since then and badly needs two wins from his matches against Taylor and Robert Thornton.I know Barneys going to play well because hes a wounded tiger, said Taylor.Hes a cracking player and he puts his heart on his sleeve and tries his hardest; he puts everything into it. Taylor and Van Barneveld produced a dramatic Premier League match in 2007 Looking back on his opening-night defeat, Taylor added: I think Rays done me a favour, it gave me the kick I needed.At the time, I was playing really well, I thought I was going to thrash him but I didnt and he beat me. I wasnt playing well enough and I had to get back on the practice board - if it wasnt for him I could have been miles in front [in the table]!Watch all of the Premier League action from night 11 in Belfast, starting at 7pm on Sky Sports 1. Also See: Sky Live: PL Darts Mardles PL predictions How to beat Van Gerwen 6-0 White cruises past Van Gerwen Evgeny Kuznetsov Jersey . LOUIS -- The St. Jaromir Jagr Jersey . If one fighter gases, he usually gets beat up pretty bad from that point on. http://www.officialcapitalsfanstore.com/...apitals-jersey/. Mesoraco hurt his hamstring while scoring from second in Friday nights 5-4 loss at Atlanta. Chapman was hit by a line drive during an exhibition game on March 19, breaking his nose and a bone above his left eye. The left-hander looked strong while throwing 43 pitches in batting practice before Saturday nights game against the Braves. Custom Washington Capitals Jerseys . Pressley missed all of last season with Cincinnati because of a knee injury, but the 5-foot-10, 249-pounder had been expected to fill a need on Clevelands roster. John Carlson Jersey . The Blueshirts hope to stay alive once again when they host the Pittsburgh Penguins in Sundays Game 6 battle at Madison Square Garden.AVONDALE, Ariz. - Denny Hamlin had a championship within his sights before, four years ago when the Sprint Cup title was his to lose.It slipped away over the final two races of the season, including a demoralizing defeat at Phoenix International Raceway. He arrived in Phoenix as the points leader and had Jimmie Johnson on the ropes as Hamlin led more than half the laps and appeared headed to the win.Instead, he needed to make a late stop for fuel that took him out of contention for the victory. The disappointment carried into the season finale the following week as Hamlin was flat and battled nerves on a day he could have claimed his first NASCAR championship. Instead, watched Johnson celebrate a fifth consecutive title.Four seasons later, Hamlin feels hes more prepared for this opportunity even though the format has changed and he doesnt believe his Joe Gibbs Racing team is as strong as it was in 2010.Hamlin goes into Sundays race at Phoenix tied for the series points lead with Joey Logano and needing to finish only 11th or better to get into next weeks championship finale.We have a position where we can control our own destiny, he said. I feel like this year the pressure on our race team is a lot less than what it was in 2010. The expectations are a lot less from the media and the fans perspective.So with that, you just race a little bit looser, and Ive been in this position before and nerves arent going to be an issue. Ive done this tons of times, been part of a championship picture, but everyones got to do their part, including myself.Hamlin will start from the pole on Sunday, with Chase for the Sprint Cup championship contenders Brad Keselowski, Kevin Harvick, Logano and Matt Kenseth right behind him. Down to eight drivers in the Chase field, there are four spots in next weeks race at Homestead-Miami Speedway up for grabs on Sunday.A victory at Phoenix will earn a Chase driver an automatic berth into the championship race.Hamlin likes his chances. Assuming he advances out of Phoenix, hes the defending race winner at Homestead.If we can get to Homestead, I feel way more confident at that race track than what I do Phoenix, he said. This is what we were hoping for. Im a believer were going to a great race track of mine.Some other things at Phoenix headed into the penultimate race of the season:HARVICKS TO LOSE: Harvick has been the class of the field at Phoenix, where hes won three of the last four races in the desert and is the two-time defending winner of Sundays race.Hes shown speed all weekend — he qualified third — and was fastest in Saturdays first practice and second-fastest in the final session.Harvick is last in the eight-driver Chase field, and is headed into Sunday believing he has to win to earn the automatic berth to Homestead.I think you need to wwin this weekend.dddddddddddd I think it would leave a lot less in everybody elses hands, he said. I think we are very capable of winning this race and we have been fortunate to have a lot of success here.DRIVERS ONLY: NASCAR called a Saturday morning meeting with crew chiefs and among the topics was a reminder that team members cannot get involved in confrontations between drivers.The edict comes after four Hendrick Motorsports crew members were suspended for participating in a brawl last Sunday on pit road between Jeff Gordon, Brad Keselowski and their teams. The fight erupted when Kevin Harvick pushed Keselowski into the scrum, and both Gordon and Keselowski were bloodied.No drivers were penalized by NASCAR.Harvick has asked NASCAR to police crew member involvement and suggested drivers take their cars to an area where crew members cant enter immediately after the race. Gordon doesnt think NASCAR needs to go that far, but agreed crew members should stay out of post-race disagreements.There is nothing wrong with crew members being out there, Gordon said. But I think what their role is in that kind of situation is just back off, and let the drivers handle it.DOWN A FEW MEN: The fallout of last weeks brawl between Gordon and Keselowski is the suspension of three of Gordons crew members.Hell run the final two races of the year without mechanic Dwayne Doucette, engine tuner Jason Ingle and hauler driver and mechanic Dean Mozingo. Gordon said the suspended crew members have told him to go win the championship in their honour.In some ways its highly motivating because those guys are as passionate about what we have had this year as a team, Gordon said. They are sending me text messages, Go get this thing done this weekend and Do this for us.Those guys were there to protect me. I believe 100 per cent that they werent there to fight. They werent there to go after a driver. They were there to make sure I was safe. The only regret I have is that it got them involved and got them in this situation to be suspended.ETIQUETTE: As tempers have flared between drivers during the Chase, theres been much discussion about a so-called on-track code. Many drivers have argued the give-and-take and accepted etiquette has been long forgotten.But six-time and defending champion Jimmie Johnson said one driver still lives by the code: Tony Stewart.The guy on the track today that still races like that era of time is Tony Stewart, said Johnson, who explained Stewart will move aside for him if he knows that Johnson has a faster car.It almost shocks me and Im surprised that he pulls over and lets me go. Sometimes I almost run into the back of him because I dont know if his car broke or what is going on. He still remembers and was raised in that environment and races that way. ' ' '