Wayne Jones paired for PDC Grand Slam
Wolverhampton's Wayne Jones will meet rising star Michael Smith in his first group game at his hometown PDC Grand Slam of Darts.
'The Wanderer' will also toe the oche with former world champion Adrian Lewis and fellow open qualifier Andy Fordham at the Civic Hall,
He won four games in one day to force a return to the competition after a two-year absence and went into Pool Three, which is slated to be paired with Pool Two first up.
GROUP A: Michael Van Gerwen, Kim Huybrechts, Steve West, Mark Oosterhuis.
GROUP B: Ian White, Jelle Klaasen, Steve Beaton, Martin Adams.
GROUP C: Adrian Lewis, Michael Smith, Wayne Jones, Andy Fordham.
GROUP D: Peter Wright, Dave Chisnall, Mervyn King, Scott Mitchell.
GROUP E: Gary Anderson, Raymond van Barneveld, Andy Boulton, Larry Butler.
GROUP F: James Wade, Keegan Brown, Mark Webster, Michel van der Horst.
GROUP G: Robert Thornton, Terry Jenkins, Jonny Clayton, Geert de Vos.
The ninth annual eight-day event gets underway on Saturday afternoon, with Jones likely to be a part of the first session after being drawn in Group C.
For the first time, each group will feature a BDO player, after the two organisation's appeared to call a truce for the tournament.
Michael van Gerwen is in Jones' half of the four-man, eight-group standings, as is BDO stalwart and Grand Slam debutant Martin Adams.
'Group of death' status looks to be D where Peter Wright, Dave Chisnall, Mervyn King and BDO world champion Scott Mitchell all reside.
Phil Taylor is in Group H, as he looks to claim a seventh Grand Slam title. Only Scott Waites - who hasn't qualified - and Raymond van Barneveld have won the trophy apart from 'the Power.'
'Barney' and reigning world titlist Gary Anderson appear to be the biggest threats on Taylor's side of the reckoning and are both in Group E.
Van Gerwen, who won the European Championship on Sunday, could come across last season's Grand Slam finalist Dave Chisnall.
Saturday's games - split across two sessions live on Sky Sports - see the players compete in the first of three group games, with all 32 in action again on Sunday and then on either Monday or Tuesday.
The top two players from each group then progress to the knockout phase, with the schedule of play for the opening games to be confirmed later this week.
Tickets for the Grand Slam, sponsored by Singha Beer, are still available by calling 0870 320 7000 or by visiting www.wolvescivic.co.uk.
