DARTS ace Ronnie Baxter's bid to make it third time lucky at the Lakeside next week is in danger of being sabotaged by injury.

Baxter, the number four seed, has lost in the last two finals of the Embassy World Darts Championship, but knows that he remains one of only a handful of players capable of leaving the Surrey venue with the trophy and winner's cheque for £44,000.

However, Baxter is suffering from repetitive strain injury and concedes that his ninth attempt at the biggest prize in darts could turn into a lottery.

"I feel like a pub player at times -- but one who has the advantage of years of experience and loads of confidence," said the 39-year-old from Church, who opens his campaign tomorrow against unranked Irishman, Mitchell Crooks.

"I am still hitting 13, 14 and 15-dart legs in practice and competition and the majority of the time I feel fine. But sometimes the pain in my right shoulder or neck can kick in. Hopefully it won't happen while I am on stage."

And Baxter will be heartened by the fact that he was nursing a back injury 12 months ago -- and still managed to reach the final.

Even the fact that he ended up losing 6-0 to Ted Hankey, one of only five final whitewashes in the Embassy's 23-year history, doesn't dampen his spirits.

"I reached a second successive final and pocketed over £20,000," said Baxter, who, as a full time professional, values a rare big pay day. I also know that when I am on my game, I can beat anybody in the world. If the darts go in, this could easily be my week."