It's the fingers that make the fortunes for Robert Thornton these days, so perhaps it's not surprising that the former venetian blind maker is in no rush to return to his old day job.

"Christ, I can't do that now, I'd cut through them," laughed the 45-year-old from Stevenston, whose digits now caress the darts with the delicate touch of an antique dealer handling a Faberge egg over a concrete floor.

Having earned £40,000 for his win over all-conquering Phil Taylor in the UK Open last season, Thornton is enjoying his time at opulent oches that are a world away from the pub scene of his native Ayrshire.

Tonight, at the SECC in Glasgow, Thornton will take on Simon Whitlock in round eight of the McCoys Premier Darts League and the former World Masters champion will stride on to the main stage with the carefree exuberance of man who is relishing the opportunity to go to dart-to-dart with the top throwers.

His victory over Taylor, the multiple world champion, in last season's UK Open secured his place on the elite, 10-man Premier League gravy train and, with just two meetings to go before the first cut-off, Thornton, who sits sixth in the table, is on course to keep his seat as a first-class passenger.

"I've been playing the best darts of my life and I think I've stunned a few people with my performances; I've certainly stunned myself," admitted Thornton, who had an 18-year hiatus from the game and only returned to make a serious assault with the arrows a decade ago.

"I'm just enjoying myself. If I win I win, if I lose I lose. It's no big deal and that's the way I'm approaching it. Against these boys, some of the best in the world, I know I have to up my game and that's the great challenge. It's been surreal for me.

"I was only playing in the pub and didn't take it that seriously and now this local lad from Stevenston is doing something like this."

While Thornton, and Eyemouth's Gary Anderson, will provide the Scottish interest on home soil tonight, the box office hit will be produced by Taylor and the decorated Dutchman, Raymond van Barneveld, who occupy two of the top three places in the Premier League standings.

It will be the first televised clash between the pair since an ill-tempered semi-final at the World Championship in December but the duo have kissed and made up since that stooshie at Alexandra Palace. Van Barneveld's last trip to Scotland was on Premier League duty during a chilly Valentine's night in Aberdeen and temperatures throughout the country have hardly soared in the weeks that have passed. It's enough to drive anyone to drink.

"I'm not really a drinker, I never drink alcohol in my private life . . . only when I play darts," Van Barneveld said. "If I don't get something to get me warm when it's cold then I'll never get a treble 20."

His encounter with Taylor should be enough to warm the cockles, mind you.