Brendan Dolan is confident he can carry his recent good form into the PDC World Darts Championship.

The Belcoo thrower takes on qualifier Callan Rydz today (Thursday) in the first round at the Alexandra Palace, and he goes in to the contest in a positive frame of mind after reaching the semi-final of the recent Player’s Championship.

“I go into it on a good run of form, with some good results behind me,” acknowledged Dolan.

“I know I’m not far away. I don’t have quite enough consistency in my game, although it is getting a lot better this year than previously.

“I need to sharpen up on my doubles and improve my scoring a little bit, but I am confident enough to think I can have a good run in the World Championships this year.”

Dolan goes into the sport’s showpiece event fresh from a victory over reigning World Champion, Gerwyn Price.

Dolan was seeded at number 23 for the draw, but has been pitched against rising star Callan Rydz, who won his first ranking title in his second event of the season.

He went on to win a second tournament and reach the quarter final of the World Matchplay tournament, so Dolan knows he will have to be at his best.

“For me, Callan Rydz was the number-one player not to be in the top 32 seeds, so it is a tough enough draw, but when you are playing the World Championships you don’t expect easy draws,” he said.

“I know I have been playing well, and I played Callan earlier in Gibraltar and won 6-1 or 6-2.

“He has beaten me in previous years, but I know I have the game to win it.”

If other games go as expected, the winner of their first-round clash will face Nathan Aspinall, who currently sits at number ten in the Order of Merit.

Dolan’s success at the Player’s Championship has shown that he can beat anyone on his day, and he feels he can carry that self-belief forward as he looks to produce another tournament performance that will confirm his place among the world elite.

“A lot of belief comes out of that weekend,” he admitted.

“I’m not silly enough to say I don’t have to keep practicing and keep putting in the effort, because when you put in the effort, you get the rewards eventually, but over the last 12 to 18 months I have put in a lot more practice and effort, and this year I have had a really good year on the floor.

“I finished eighth or ninth on the floor, and I do think I am getting the rewards slowly but surely.

"Another good run in the worlds would crown it off.”