Girl Power v Phil The Power

The Russian will kick off her second Grand Slam of Darts campaign against defending champion Taylor at the Civic Hall this evening.

And the 25-year-old former women's world champion is confident she can improve on last year, when she tumbled out of the tournament in the group stage.

Dobromyslova took Wayne Mardle to a deciding leg last year, and has claimed a number of notable male scalps since joining the PDC circuit last Christmas.

"I haven't done as well as I wanted to, but I've done better than most people expected me to," said the 25-year-old. "I'm quite pleased and I think I'm a better player than last year."

And she insists that facing Taylor, a close friend, will hold no fear in their opening group game. "I was looking forward to it anyway but especially so since the draw was made and I saw my group," she said.

"Phil has looked after me and we've had a few exhibitions together and practised together too.

"I think it's best that I'm playing him first, because with him being such a good player it will give me a lot of experience straight away and I'll be ready for the other matches too."

Taylor has been unbeatable in the previous two Grand Slams and has also claimed every major ranking PDC title for the past year.

"It's a fantastic tournament and I'd love to make it three titles in a row," said Taylor.

"Everyone in the tournament is a champion in their own right or has been successful so it's a great field of players.

"The group stage is tough because the games are so short and playing Anastasia first will be hard. She's done well and is improving all the time, and I've got no doubt the crowd will be cheering for her, but I'm looking forward to it."

The 2009 PartyPoker.com Grand Slam of Darts begins tonight as 32 stars of the sport battle for the £100,000 first prize.

Also in Taylor's group are former BDO World Champion Mark Webster and Holland's Vincent van der Voort.

Five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld, the PDC world number two, takes on the other woman in the field, current Womens World Champion Francis Hoenselaar, in tonight's second game. He was drawn in a tough Group D, which also features Canada's three-time World Champion John Part and Kevin Painter, the 2004 PDC World Championship finalist.

Number eight seed Tony O'Shea meets Brian Woods in Group B, which also features Grand Slam debutant Colin Osborne and former World Matchplay winner Colin Lloyd.

Group C's opening games see Mervyn King, the number five seed and a semi-finalist in the 2008 Grand Slam, take on Birmingham-based Kirk Shepherd and Darryl Fitton meet Steve Maish, the ITV Wildcard Qualifier. BDO World Champion Ted Hankey, the number two seed, has been drawn in a tough Group E, alongside Australian Simon Whitlock, Wayne 'Hawaii 501' Mardle and Yorkshire's Scott Waites.

The Telford-based star, nicknamed The Count, said: "I've watched the Grand Slam in previous years and it's been entertaining. I'm happy with my group but I just want to be there and show people how good I am."

Tickets for the tournament are still available and can be purchased on 0870 320 7000 or via www.wolvescivic.co.uk

By Steve Madeley