Wayne Jones wants a higher place

Wolverhampton's Wayne Jones will be looking to take the scalp of Mark Walsh when the two clash in the European Championships.

Jones set off for Germany yesterday morning ahead of the first round tie at the Maritim Hotel in Dusseldorf tonight, live on ITV4.

'The Wanderer' has risen to number 14 in the world rankings after a productive 12 months but will go up another place if he can beat Walsh, the world number 13.

Last week's World Matchplay in Blackpool saw Jones bow out in the second rounds to eventual winner Phil 'the Power' Taylor, who retained his title for the fourth year running.

The two contested the European Championship final last year and that, along with three quarter-finals and one semi-final finish, has seen Jones climb the players' charts.

He said: "Mark is one place in front of me in the world rankings and, if I beat him, I go in front of him.

"He's a good player and I certainly won't be underestimating him but I have a good record against him so, if it goes as it usually does, I will be alright.

"If I can get a 98 average like last week, I will know I am back and playing well, so it's up to me to put another good performance in."

Jones will be looking to hit the ground running tonight in the quick-fire tournament, which finishes with the final on Sunday night.

The 46-year-old will face either Raymond van Barnveld or Andy 'the Hammer' Hamilton tomorrow night if he can see off Walsh, with the quarter-finals and semi-finals also taking place on Sunday.

And Jones insists he doesn't care who he plays as the weekend wares on, as long as his name is still in the frame.

He said: "I beat 'Barney' last year and I have not got a bad record against 'Hammer' either, so I really don't mind who I play.

"But to get past the first round is everything in these things, the priority is to be in them and then's it's do well in them."

Last week's defeat stretched Jones' winless win against to Taylor 14 games in all competitions.

'The Power' was on fire averaging 108, upstaging his opponent's own respectable average of 98.

Jones said: "With a 98 average, you would expect to beat most people, so I was a little bit disappointed to lose to Phil last week.

"But what can you do against a 108 average? Not a lot, I am afraid."