MICHAEL VAN GERWEN has issued an ominous warning to his rivals ahead of his Ally Pally return on Friday.

Van Gerwen faces James Hurrell in his opening tie in the World Darts Championship tomorrow as he heads into the tournament without being favourite for the first time in years.

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Despite not being tipped to lift the Sid Waddell trophy in the new year, Van Gerwen is still confident of his chances - suggesting that he's happy for people to underestimate him.

Speaking to , he said: "It hasn't been a great year, but we still have a while. I haven't lost it, mind you. But 'it will be okay,' I really can't think that now.

"It is far too changeable now and I have to do everything I can to get that out. That doesn't mean it will work out immediately, but it can happen very quickly.

"In September I also suddenly won the Euro Tour in Budapest. The problem is that even after winning it could quickly go the other way again."

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Van Gerwen hasn't won a televised PDC title this year, but thinks that his form could work in his favour if people are already counting him out.

He defiantly added: "Let them all think that they don't have to take me into account, then one day someone will get the lid on their nose.

"That they think: oh well, he can do that too of course. I can't wait for that moment. Everyone talks about [Luke] Humphries and [Luke] Littler and they deserve it, because they won the best tournaments this year.

"But I'm having a year like this and have still won as much from Littler as he has from me. I'm not afraid to play against the biggest.

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"Now when people ask me if I can become world champion, I say 'yes', but then everything has to fall into place.

"You don't always have a grip on that, but everything starts with continuing to believe in yourself.

"When people say I can lose to anyone at the moment, they forget one thing: I can still win from anyone, too."

Luke Littler and Luke Humphries head into the Worlds as the top two favourites after sensational years at the oche.

But Van Gerwen has beaten Littler in six of their 12 meeting this year, while the Green Machine beat Humphries 10-9 when the pair last faced off in September - giving him confidence he can topple either star on his day.

MVG has been crowned World Champion on three occasions before and despite poor form will still be a force to be reckoned with at the Palace.

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