Luke Littler has been warned of the 'brutal' nature of the Premier League after being named as one of the wildcards.
The teenage sensation will take part in the tournament for the first time this year and former darts star Wayne Mardle has given him a word of caution.
Littler became the youngest player to ever win a match at the World Darts Championship when he beat Christian Kist in December.
But the 16-year-old didn't stop there, beating former champions Raymond van Barneveld and Rob Cross on his way to the final.
Luke Littler has been warned of the rigours of the Premier League
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Littler is now a household name despite suffering defeat in Wednesday's final against Luke Humphries.
He had a nervous wait to see if he would be selected for the Premier League on Thursday but the PDC have included him in the eight-player tournament.
The competition will begin on February 1 and will continue for 17 consecutive Thursdays until the final at London's O2 Arena on May 23.
Littler will participate in at least the first 16 weeks, with the top four in the table after that night progressing to the final.
Mardle is excited by the quality of the line-up on show and believes Littler is one of the favourites to win.
However, he admits he is in for a tough few months as he also enters the Pro Tour for the first time.
Mardle told Sky Sports: "It's an amazing line-up. We've got two debutants, we've got a seven-time champion.
"There's a few in there that need to produce like Peter Wright. There's a few in there that will want to prove a point like Michael Smith and Gerwyn Price.
"We know Peter Wright is near the back end of his career and has got to play well - there's pressure on him to play well. He won the European Championships by playing some amazing darts.
"He didn't play well in last year's edition of the Premier League. He went out in the World Championship with a whimper, so he needs to produce and there's pressure on him to do so.
"Gerwyn Price has to produce as well. There have been a few performances that have been a bit flat, a bit lacklustre, so that needs to change.
"When you look at Michael Smith, from winning the World Championship to losing the World Championship he'll want to have a good run. For me, the one that is going to go under the radar is going to be Rob Cross.
"The way Littler dealt with him was extraordinary. I feel like Cross has got a real shout with this - he was quite verbal last year about being left out.
"Michael van Gerwen loves this format. He has won it plenty of times and will be tough to beat but Luke Humphries and Luke Littler are the favourites.
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Luke Littler just missed out on triumph at the World Darts Championship
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"To qualify for the Premier League these days is so tough. The school of darts is brutal."
The first night of the Premier League will be in Cardiff in less than a month's time before the tournament heads for Berlin a week later.
Glen Durrant, who won the tournament in 2020, has told Littler to enjoy this moment as form on the oche can be lost quickly.
Durrant said: "We haven't seen a talent like this since Michael van Gerwen.
"He is generational. He is so mature. He has got everything - that beautiful combination of incredible scoring and unbelievable finishing.
Luke Humphries and Luke Littler will battle it out again in the Premier League
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"He's the real deal and he has got to enjoy the moment.
"There was a time when I was Premier League champion and then a week later I could barely hit a big 20. Live for it right now, Luke.
"He's got there with this incredible talent and unbelievable maturity for a 16-year-old. Long may it continue."
