Playing in front of a New Zealand crowd is rare for top Kiwis darts player Cody Harris, but it’s an experience he plans to savour when he contests next month's Auckland Darts Masters at the Trusts Arena.
The 32-year-old has spent the past seven months participating in the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) Challenge Tour, against many of the game's best upcoming players, trying to earn one of two Pro Tour cards.
But now he is back in New Zealand for two months for a crucial phase of the darting year.
The 'Code-star' has already qualified for the Auckland Masters, but he also hopes to qualify for the Brisbane and Melbourne Masters, as well as a spot at the World Darts Championships in December.
It will be the fourth straight year Auckland has hosted a world series leg (August 3-5), where eight local qualifiers from Australia and New Zealand will take on eight of the biggest names in the sport.
Added to the pressure of doing well in front of your home crowd is the fact that no New Zealander has won a match at the Auckland Masters. In fact, the last time a Kiwi won on the World Series was in 2014, when Warren Parry stunned Michael Van Gerwen in Sydney.
Harris told Newshub that he expects the drought to end this year.
"I've gone through all the excitement qualifying for it, and now it is all about relaxing, as I want to be calm when the day comes around.
"My mindset is a lot stronger. There is more of a killer instinct to get the job done, and hopefully that will happen in Auckland.
"The likes of Warren Parry and Haupai Puha will both have a crack, and there are four more qualifying spots. I'm sure whoever gets in will have the ability to beat anybody.
Harris said that events like the Auckland Darts Masters had helped grow the sport in New Zealand.
"It is great seeing people get into it. People are seeing it as a way to make a living, and little kids grow up watching it and it keeps them out of trouble.
"I've always seen the talent, and because of events like this, the public is starting to see it."
After Harris has finished his duties here, he will head back to the UK to finish the Challenge Tour. There are eight events left for the father of five to claim one of the available tour cards.
Harris is currently eighth in the standings, NZ$1500 behind the man in second place, where he needs to finish for a card.
He has had decent results including a stage victory, but it hasn't been easy.
Things didn't start well when he arrived without his luggage and that put him on the backfoot from Day One, but he has since found his feet living in another country.
"It was an eye-opener for me. I was thrown into the lion's den, because the players over there are excellent and there are hundreds of them.
"You can't muck around over there. Here, you can have a few warm-up games before you get a good game, but over there, every game is a tough one and you have to be at your best every time."
If Harris can get some good results during his time in Australia and New Zealand, it might be the springboard he needs to help him become the country's first full-time professional.
"At first, I was scared, but I might not have looked it. The more games you play on stage, the more comfortable you get.
"Once you get comfortable, you feel at home, and that is important, if you want to beat the best.
"I want to be the best and to do that I must beat the best, so I look forward to these events."
Newshub.
