GERWYN Price won't have boos to contend with when he steps to the makeshift oche in his kitchen in the PDC Home Tour tomorrow.

The 35-year-old from Markham will be facing Austria's Rowby-John Rodriguez in the novel tournament that sees darts players competing via video link.

The 'Iceman' will be playing next to his freezer in Group Two's opening match, providing some welcome relief while the rest of the sporting world is in lockdown.

Price has risen to third in the world since becoming a professional after his former life as a rugby player in which he won the WRU National Cup with Cross Keys at Principality Stadium and earned a chance with Glasgow.

For a while the ex-hooker was a pantomime villain and he had a high-profile clash with Gary Anderson in the 2018 Grand Slam of Darts.

But in recent times Price has won over the punters with the quality of his play, not that he'll enjoy any backing in the Home Tour.

Instead it will be the sound of silence as he aims to handle the heat in his own kitchen.

South Wales Argus:

"It's going to be good not having people booing behind me! But the crowd had been good in recent months and I like to have a good atmosphere, whether it's boos or cheers," he said.

"Since day one I've always been the same player, I never went out intentionally to pee people off, do something to get noticed or be a character. I've just been myself."

Price has spent lockdown finishing a pond, gardening, putting down a new drive and painting in his Markham home.

Now it will be back to the day job with wife Bethan and daughters Emily and Bethany banned from the Wi-Fi to ensure a good connection as the world watches on.

"I'll be playing in my kitchen and all that I will have is my phone on a tripod," he said. "You're not allowed any distractions in the room, you've got to give 100 per cent like any other tournament and the DRA (Darts Regulation Authority) rules apply.

"There is no messing about in this and we have to concentrate and try our best, it should be good.

"Everybody is sat at home at the moment so there will be plenty watching but I'll just be throwing darts into a board like normal, and hopefully playing well.

"I've had a throw and I'm playing alright but it'll just be a bit different when up against someone else and it's being streamed live."

South Wales Argus:

The Home Tour will fill the void for plenty of sports fans and will also keep Price entertained as he waits for the return of the proper stuff.

The Welshman joined the PDC in 2014 and now only Michael van Gerwen and Peter Wright are above him in the rankings thanks to him settling on the circuit.

"The first year or two weren't as busy but being in the Premier League has made things harder with all the travel," he admitted.

"You can be all over Europe and I wasn't enjoying it at first but then you get used to it. I can't wait to get back into it, playing darts and getting on the road."

First though, Price is in action his kitchen with the action starting at 7.30pm on the PDC's own TV channel.