New Zealand Darts Masters: Simon Whitlock to test defending champion Gerwyn Price in first round

The first of a double-header of PDC World Series of Darts events Down under sees eight stars of the PDC take on eight Oceanic Representatives at the GLOBOX Arena in Hamilton.

Price, who suffered an early exit in July's World Matchplay, will be looking to get back to winning ways at the GLOBOX Arena after tasting glory in Hamilton 12 months ago - but faces a tough start against Australian legend Whitlock.

Recently World Matchplay champion Nathan Aspinall faces New Zealand youngster Kayden Milne - who defeated Fallon Sherrock in the 2022 tournament and returns to the big stage ahead of his participation in the Winmau World Youth Championship later this month.

World Champion Michael Smith starts his campaign against DartPlayers Australia number one Darren Penhall, whilst Peter Wright - returning to New Zealand after missing last year's tournament due to surgery - faces big-stage debutant Jonny Tata.

Australia's Damon Heta, who was moved into the PDC representatives after Jonny Clayton's late withdrawal, will face New Zealand's Darren Herewini - whose only previous World Series appearance came in the 2017 Auckland Darts Masters.

Rob Cross, a former Brisbane Darts Masters winner, returns to New Zealand for the first time since 2019, and will take on the experienced Warren Parry in their opener on Friday.

Danny Noppert - a debutant Down Under - faces a tough task in New Zealand's number one Ben Robb, while Dimitri Van den Bergh takes on the experienced Haupai Puha.

Play in Friday's first round of the NZ Darts Masters gets underway at the GLOBOX Arena at 1900 local time (0800 BST), with the decisive quarter-finals, semi-finals and final to follow on Saturday August 5.

Rob Cross v Warren Parry

Damon Heta v Darren Herewini

Dimitri Van den Bergh v Haupai Puha

Peter Wright v Jonny Tata

Nathan Aspinall v Kayden Milne

Gerwyn Price v Simon Whitlock

Michael Smith v Darren Penhall

Danny Noppert v Ben Robb