IT could be the Wright time. Two years ago, he announced himself on the Ally Pally stage. Now, he could be just six matches from conquering the Worlds.

A final defeat to Michael van Gerwen is as close as Peter Wright has come to the ultimate prize in darts. That January night in London did not deflate him, though.

Instead, it gave him an insight into where he had to improve, of the level he had to aspire to reach if he was to realise the ambition and add his name to the illustrious honour roll.

Wright’s run to the 2014 final, where he eventually lost 7-4, was unexpected, but a repeat in the coming days would hardly send shockwaves through the sport.

The Scot is third in the betting to lift the title, only behind Michael van Gerwen, the shortest price favourite in the history of the tournament, and the reigning two time champion Gary Anderson.

Wright is last up on stage tomorrow evening and will face either Jerry Hendriks or Warren Parry as he looks to avoid falling at the first hurdle. It could be the start of something special for ‘Snakebite’.

“My form has slowly come to just about right,” Wright told SportTimes.

“I didn’t play well in the World Series, apart from one game to be honest. I am starting to hit it right in for the World Championships so I am looking forward to it.

“It is about getting yourself in the right frame of mind and in the zone. The first focus is winning the opening game, otherwise it will be a rubbish Christmas.

“It is just to get over that first hurdle. You don’t go and say ‘I will win the tournament’. You go there, try to win in the first round and then you take it from there.

“It is all learning and I have experiences, good and bad, from the last few years.

“I wasn’t ready to win the title against Michael that year and in the last couple of years I have had things not quite right with my game and not had the right setup. Now I have, I should have no excuses.

“It came too early for me and my game wasn’t there. I wasn’t consistent enough, I wasn’t scoring high enough.

“Now, it is all different. I have got the right setup, it has taken a while, and I am looking forward to it.”

With his garish trouser and shirt combinations, multi-coloured and styled hair and ‘Don’t stop the party’ theme, Wright exudes confidence on the stage. Crucially, though, he has the game to back up the bravado.

He heads into the Worlds as a real contender. He will be respected, even feared, and has the mentality as well as the ability.

“It would be great to do it this year,” Wright said. “But I know if I don’t do it this year, if I practice with those darts for another twelve months I will be going in favourite next year.

“I am full of confidence. If you are not confident then you shouldn’t be playing.

“The guys out there can sniff a little bit of fear in you and they will jump all over you, that is what darts is like.

“You play guys in tournaments and if you are not on your game then you get beat. If they see you are a bit scared, then you get punished.

“I don’t think the players can work me out. They can’t suss me out or get into my head and that is good.

“Some players try and get into your head in the back room but that doesn’t work with me. I try not to show them anything. That is the secret.”

If the dream is to become a reality, if it is to be second time lucky for Wright, he may well have to overcome a familiar foe.

There are a handful of top players that will fancy their chances of lifting the Sid Waddell Trophy, but it is van Gerwen who rightly heads the list. The Dutchman has been in imperious form this season, but he is beatable.

“I don’t think the format actually suits Michael,” Wright said.

“It hasn’t worked out for him in the last couple of years. The only reason he won the Worlds that year was because of me, because I wasn’t ready and wasn’t playing consistently enough.

“That is the reason and you can see in the last couple of years that he is vulnerable over the sets. It is not just me who will be saying that.

“Gary beat him last year and he and the likes of Phil can beat him over the sets when it is a totally different game.

“I will be watching Phil, I reckon he is the one to watch going into the tournament. I have got a feeling he is going to do really well.

“Gary will want to win three on the trot, which he is capable of doing, Aidy (Lewis) got to the final last year, has won it twice before and is a fantastic player.”