‘ICEMAN’ Gerwyn Price will aim to keep his cool when he fulfils a lifetime ambition by going up against the greatest darts player of all time on Sunday evening.

The 32-year-old from Markham is hoping to play the role of party pooper when he takes on Phil Taylor in the first round of the World Matchplay in Blackpool.

‘The Power’ has won the tournament 15 times since his first success in 1995 but this is his final trip to the Winter Gardens before hanging up his 26g Targets.

Price is thrilled by the opportunity to pit his wits against the iconic Taylor, who turns 57 next month, in front of the Sky Sports cameras in a best-of-19 clash.

“This is the first time that I will have played him on the main stage and it’s great that I am getting the chance before he retires,” said the world number 17.

“Win or lose it will be a great experience and a proud moment for me because he is the reason that darts is where it is now.

“It will be tough but I will give it my best shot… and the way that we’ve been playing maybe he will be more worried about me!”

That feisty nature has ensured the former Cross Keys hooker has rattled a few cages – he memorably had a verbal tussle with Adrian Lewis in the tournament last year after knocking ‘Jackpot’ out in 2015 – but this weekend’s opponent is a fan.

“He’s great,” said Taylor, who has 16 World Championship triumphs to his name to go with his World Matchplay successes. “A lot of players don’t like him, but I quite like him.”

“He’s a good little player with a bit of go about him. I just think he’s different because he’s come across from another sport and he sticks up for himself.”

Price will be backed by a large family contingent in Blackpool and is relishing another memory to cherish from a remarkable rise.

He only turned professional in 2014 and won his first PDC titles in 2016 when lifting back-to-back Players Championships to climb into the top 32.

Price was runner-up at the UK Open this year, partnered Mark Webster to the final of the World Cup of Darts with Wales in June and hopes to stun Taylor to go on a run at the 32-strong World Matchplay.

“This is one of the most enjoyable tournaments with the crowd really on top of you, so it should be fun,” said Price.

“It’s all be a bit of a whirlwind over the past few years and I’ve done pretty well; I’m 17 in the world now and I want to keep rising.

“My aim is to get into the [2018] Premier League and I think I stand a good chance, which would have been a dream for me three and a half years ago.”

Price takes on Taylor, now world number 7, in the evening session in Blackpool with the first tie starting at 7.30pm.