Seven weeks after his first Premier League final in Berlin, where he lost to Michael van Gerwen, Luke Littler is back in a Premier League final, this time against good friend Nathan Aspinall in Belfast.

For The Asp, it is his fourth final this season and so far, he has one win and two defeats to his name.

A hug of appreciation between Littler and Aspinall before the crowd go in for another rendition of Aspinall's 'Mr Brightside' entrance song.

Littler goes into this as the favourite, off tonight's showings alone if nothing else.

Littler to throw first, game on!

Image source, PA Media

Nathan Aspinall has one night victory to his name already in this year's Premier League, winning on night five in Exeter.

After starting the competition slowly, the world number four has bounced back well to put himself firmly inside the top four in the table.

The man from Stockport will be on something close to home soil in Manchester next Thursday - what better way to head there than with another night win?

He's beaten the world champion and the defending Premier League champion already in Belfast.

Is tonight going to be Luke Littler's night?

Nathan Aspinall stands between the 17-year-old and a first night win in the Premier League.

He's been in one final before, losing 6-5 to Michael van Gerwen in Berlin in week two.

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Manchester's AO Arena hosts the next instalment of the Premier League on Thursday, 4 April.

There's going to be a repeat of tonight's semi-final between Luke Littler and Michael van Gerwen, while the winners of the past two World Championships - Michael Smith and Luke Humphries - also meet in the last eight.

Here's the quarter-final line-up:

• Nathan Aspinall v Rob Cross
• Luke Littler v Michael van Gerwen
• Michael Smith v Luke Humphries
• Gerwyn Price v Peter Wright

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John Part
Former PDC world champion on Sky Sports

It's a big opportunity for Luke Littler to get his first night win. It would mean a lot to him.

On the flip side, Nathan Aspinall will take another win. It wasn't the flashiest of matches [against Peter Wright] but we know he has the gears to be able to complete with Luke at his best.

It will be a big, big battle.

That win was all about persistence and consistency from Aspinall, which, while he was not at his best, he showed enough of to book his place into the final.

Aspinall only averaged 93.1 and failed to find a single maximum, but with 14 100+ scores and seven more of 140 or more, blew Wright out of the water, with the Scot averaging just shy of 90.

The Asp's checkout accuracy was scarily impressive above anything else, checking out six out of nine at a rate of 66.7% as he booked his place into the final.

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Nathan Aspinall, on his throw, does not look all that comfortable and the odd dart thrown by him in the past few legs has seen him shake his hand, either in pain or annoyance.

Peter Wright has the chance to checkout 105 to win the eighth leg, but goes trebleless.

Aspinall thumps in a 68 checkout for the victory. A single one, 17, then bull to win 6-2 and set up a final with Luke Littler.

Nathan Aspinall has kicked on after that brilliant 121 checkout in the previous leg and leaves himself 41 to win, 180 clear of Wright and against the throw.

In response, Wright struggles and puts his final dart, which he needed to score from, into the flight of another of his darts already on the board.

Wright follows that up with a score of 11, one, one, treble three.

Aspinall takes out 16 with a double eight to go within one leg of the final.

Rod Studd
Commentator on Sky Sports

What a finish that is! Acknowledged by the former world champion.

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The Asp is yet to hit a maximum, but so far, he's not necessarily needed to.

A sensational 121 checkout from him on his throw, going bull, treble 13, double 16, puts him 4-2 up with a 12-dart leg.

Aspinall has looked the stronger of the two so far, but Wright, on his throw, finds a second maximum of the match to leave himself in pole position in the leg.

Wright makes advantage of it, taking out 38 with a first-dart double 19 to make it 3-2.

In his quarter-final win over Rob Cross, Snakebite had a few darts that strayed into single or treble one and again, we are seeing that already early into this semi-final.

On his throw, Aspinall leaves himself 140, hitting 100 to leave tops.

Wright has a go at 100 in reply, going for a back-to-back tops after a single 20, finding the first but not the second.

Asp takes out 40 with one dart in response to go 3-1 up.

Peter Wright back on his throw, makes up for a slow start to leg three with a first maximum of the match to set up 96, which he does not go close to finishing.

Aspinall has 76 in response, taking it out clinically with two 20s and a double 18, breaking Wright to go 2-1 up.

Wright is the first one with the chance to check out in the second leg, against the throw.

He throws 100 chasing 156, with Aspinall replying with 100 chasing 160.

Wright is unable to take out his 56, but Aspinall, at the second attempt, finds tops to check out 60 and level up on his throw.

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Peter Wright could really do with a victory tonight in order to make the most of advancing out of the quarter-finals for only the second time this year.

A pleasing start for him in the opening leg, taking out 78 via treble 18, 12 and double six to take the first leg.

Mark Webster
Former BDO world champion on Sky Sports

It's a big game at both ends of the table. If Peter wins the night, he'll be off the bottom of the table.

For Nathan, everything's kind of going to plan. He's en route for the top four, which he agonisingly missed out on last year. He's looking to get back to the play-offs.

Aspinall jokingly does Wright's walk-on dance across the stage in front of him as he gets onto the stage, which Wright sees the funny side of.

The Belfast crowd follow that great bit of camaraderie up with a rendition of Aspinall's walk-on song of 'Mr Brightside' impeccably, no backing music required.

Both men are up for it as Wright throws first.

Game on!

Peter Wright faces Nathan Aspinall for the second time in this year's Premier League and the first time since night five in Exeter.

That night, Aspinall won 6-4 en route to a night victory and a maximum five points.

A result similar to that tonight will put for The Asp in the final against Luke Littler.

Two weeks ago, Michael van Gerwen averaged just under 111 in Nottingham against Luke Littler and was unable to beat him.

Tonight, Littler averaged just under 100 and Van Gerwen was still some way off, despite not playing badly himself.

With Littler finding 13 100+ scores, eight 140+ scores and two maximums, combined with a 40% checkout rate, Van Gerwen knew he had to be near perfect to beat Littler.

Victory for Littler means if he wins in the final against either Nathan Aspinall or Peter Wright, he will end the night above Van Gerwen, second in the table and four points behind leader Luke Humphries.

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Domination in the end from Luke "The Nuke" Littler. He wins 6-3 against Michael van Gerwen and is into the final!

After knocking out world champion Luke Humphries in the quarter-finals, Littler has continued his strong night with a brilliant win over Van Gerwen.

A 13-dart leg to finish off his 6-3 victory, needing just one dart at double 12 to set up a final against either Nathan Aspinall or Peter Wright.