IN THE LINE OF FIRE

Littler accepts rivals all want his scalp

- MIKE WALTERS

LUKE LITTLER begins the defence of his BetMGM Premier League title in Belfast next month admitting there will be a “target on my back”.

As the eight-man cast for this year’s Thursday night travelling circus was unveiled – with former world champions Michael Smith and Peter Wright dropped from last year’s line-up – new world champ Littler conceded he was a marked man.

And ‘Luke the Nuke’ fears there will be more first-night nerves like his close shave against barber Ryan Meikle at the first hurdle of his PDC World Championship triumph.

Littler, 17, hit a nine-darter in the final against Luke Humphries as he lifted his first TV major at London’s O2 arena last May.