STUART Kellett is feeling optimistic ahead of his latest attempt to secure a place back in the game’s professional ranks.

The Northwich darter will be among hundreds of hopefuls enrolling at the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) Qualifying School – a four-day competition where tour cards are a prize – in Wigan tomorrow, Thursday.

“It would mean hell of a lot to get one,” he told the Guardian.

“As [PDC chairman] Barry Hearn himself has said, it’s a golden ticket because the money up for grabs now is incredible.

“I know playing at my best, and with confidence boosted should I win one, I can be dangerous as I’ve proved in the past.”

The 37-year-old climbed into the Order of Merit’s top 32 and played on the main stage at the world championships in three successive years before losing his tour card in 2016.

He was within a leg of winning it back at Q School a fortnight later only to miss out after a decider against Kirk Shepherd.

After playing at the event in 2018 too, he knows what he is letting himself in for.

Kellett said: “That experience can help.

“There are going to be a lot of good players there again and with the best BDO players having a go too I’m expecting a tough few days.

“However if I play well I know I can compete.

“You need a bit of luck along the way too.”

The incentive to get through is bigger too after the PDC announced that an extra £2m in prize money is on offer to players during 2019.

That takes the total beyond £14m overall.

Meanwhile Kellett, a regular on the second-tier Challenge Tour for the past two seasons, is happy with his form.

He added: “My preparation has been good and practice is going well.

“I’ve won three of the past four local competitions I’ve entered and finished as runner-up in the other.

“I think I can be more consistent, but I’ve thrown some great darts when I’ve needed to.”

There were flashes of brilliance in 2018, notably during qualifying for the UK Open that secured a bye to the finals’ second round.

The former Cheshire regular was disappointed though to bow out following a 6-1 defeat against David Airey.

He also reached the last 16 at Challenge Tour events on two occasions.

Kellett added: “When I played well, I was unlucky with bad draws against other guys that produced their best on the day.

“But that’s the way it goes sometimes.”

The PDC confirmed on Tuesday afternoon that close to 400 players have entered to play at Q School, including newly-crowned Lakeside world champion Glen Durrant.