DENNIS Smith is hoping an enforced break from practice will prove the key to success today when he travels to Reading for the second Players Championship event of the season.

The PDC stalwart has been suffering with shingles for much of the past two weeks, and spent the first half of this week in bed, unable to practice.

Smiffy is on the mend now, and despite admitting it was less than ideal preparation for going up against some of the biggest names in world darts, he is hoping his illness might work in his favour.

“It has been quite difficult, and I have felt very unwell,” he said. “It got to the point where I couldn’t bear it much longer and I went to the doctor and he told me I had shingles.

“I was laid up in bed for quite a long time unable to practice, and that is not an ideal situation because I was not able to get on the board for a few days.

“But in a strange sort of way I am hoping that it will actually do me some good this weekend. I think I could probably have done with a bit of a break from the game to get refreshed, and I am going there trying to win.

“I have been practicing well and I am feeling good now, so we will have to see how it goes.”

Smith has not enjoyed the best of starts to his season after failing to make significant progress at the first two Players Championship tournaments in Benidorm or at the first UK Open qualifier in Crawley, but is hoping for better luck this time around.

“I have not had the kindest draws so far this season, and these tournaments mean a good draw is very important.

“I played John Part in one of the first rounds, and I don’t think it can get much harder than that really, but I am feeling good and looking forward to playing.”

Fellow Swindon thrower Johnny Haines will also be travelling along the M4 to the event, and will be looking to build on his impressive start to life as a PDC ProTour Card holder.

Haines was unable to make the opening Players Championship event in Spain having only won his card at Qualifying School the previous weekend, but made up for lost time as he beat a host of experienced players to storm to eighth in the UK Open order of merit.

This weekend’s event will see 128 of the best players in the world compete in tournaments both today and tomorrow with an open draw, and Haines is looking to make his mark.

“If I could have another weekend like I did at the UK Open qualifier that would be great because I have