LITTLER'S GOT ROAR POWER!

Teenager Luke's path to final is clearing... and he has the talent and resilience to go all the way

- MIKE WALTERS

HE'S got the talent, he's got the bottle and Luke Littler has got the afterburners to take the chequered flag.

Luke the Nuke's path to the PDC World Championship quarter-finals has been a bumpier road than his magic carpet ride 12 months ago.

But when he faces one of his best pals on the circuit, Nathan Aspinall, at Alexandra Palace tonight, he will be fortified by two key traits that separate champions from contenders - resilience under pressure and a scoring power few, if any, can match.

Littler's record against the 'Asp' is impressive seven wins from their eight meetings, with an aggregate score of 45-31 in legs. His only defeat came in the Premier League at Nottingham in March.

Now he must recalibrate his sights because the widely anticipated 'Lukes of Hazard' semi-final against Luke Humphries, his conqueror in the final at Ally Pally 12 months ago, is off the table.