RAYMOND van Barneveld is confident a winning return to his Reebok "home" will confirm his position as the world number one.

The cream of the darting world descends on Bolton this weekend for the UK Open - and defending champion van Barneveld is determined to silence his critics after a torrid few months.

The 41-year-old has endured a miserable six months, losing his world championship in January, followed by a hit-and-miss Whyte & Mackay Premier League campaign which ended in semi-final defeat to James Wade and a disappointing exit in the last 32 of the US Open.

But the Dutch ace, still the top ranked player in the PDC, is ready to put that all behind him and win his third successive UK Open, which starts at the Reebok on Thursday.

"The UK Open is my tournament, I enjoy playing at the Reebok and I've got great memories of the place," said van Barneveld.

"I'm confident that I can find my form again. I've been practising very hard and I've had enough time to get myself fit again after the Premier League.

"I like being the World number one, so I really want to get another UK Open win to prove I can still be the best in the world."

Barney, as he is known on the circuit, puts his loss of form down to a flu bug he picked up in both the World Championships and the Premier League.

"I think the flu could have denied me two major titles and £200,000," said van Barneveld.

"I got it at the Alexandra Palace and lost to Kevin Painter in the quarter-finals, and then got it last week and lost to Wade in the Premier League semi-final.

"You just can't concentrate and the slightest thing that affects your focus at this level is vital. I definitely suffered, I got tired as the semi went on against Wade.

"There's no doubt that it's getting harder at the top of darts.

"I said immediately after losing the semi-final that I was tired - the travelling really is tough at this level.

"I'm struggling to compete in the Premier League. It takes three days out of every week for the first five months of the year and I don't think I've recovered that well from it.

"Then I had to travel to the US Open, suffered jet lag when I returned and then got the flu and that finished my hopes for the Premier League.

"I have to seriously look at my schedules in the future. I may have to quit the Premier League so that I can concentrate on all the other tournaments."

If van Barneveld is to retain his UK Open title, he will probably have to defeat Phil Taylor once again.

Taylor has been in fine form this season and goes into the tournament on the back of victory in the Premier League.

And it is no surprise that The Power' is confident of snatching back the title he has won twice - in 2003 and 2005.

"I'm after everything now and I won't rest until I have all the trophies back," said Taylor.

"Last year, I had a poor year by my standards - I was rubbish."

Van Barneveld has ended Taylor's run in the last two UK Opens, and the Stoke thrower added: "The first time he was lucky, the second time he battered me.

"I'd love to play him, but I'm not bothered who I play. It's the FA Cup of darts and the harder the draw for me early on, the better.

"Barney doesn't seem himself at the moment. He seems a little bit down but he'll be back."

l Tickets are still available for the competition, which starts on Thursday night and finishes on Sunday. For more information ring 0871 871 2932.