Fallon Sherrock is out pick on this occasion, the 25-year-old has enjoyed a stunning six months on the BDO tour and also participated on the PDC Challenge Tour. Despite not getting her tour card at Q-School in January, the Milton Keynes thrower has been testing herself against the second tier of PDC talent, and returning some excellent results.

In the BDO she won the Danish Open and Masters double in May, as well reaching the final in Scotland, Germany and the Isle of Man.

Following the recent exploits of Mikuru Suzuki on the world stage, Sherrock has slightly faded into the background, but is still a very capable thrower. She is of course the reigning World Trophy holder having come through a packed field in Preston last August.

The former World Championship finalist defeated Rhian Griffiths and Maria O’Brien in the early rounds before whitewashing Roz Bulmer in the semi-finals.

She then produced the highest average of the tournament (94.22) in defeating Lorraine Winstanley in the final. If Sherrock can recapture this form in the 2019 edition of the tournament she will be a tough woman to beat.

Most bookies have her third favourite to win the tournament at 8/1, behind World Championship winning duo Mikuru Suzuki and Lisa Ashton. She will of course face Suzuki in the opening round, and should she squeeze past her Japanese opponent she could become a big favourite for glory in Blackburn.