WORLD CHAMPION Phil Taylor and a host of the top players from the Professional Darts Corporation will be in Swindon this weekend.

The Power, who claimed his 13th world individual championship title at the beginning of the year, heads the class field who have entered the Budweiser UK South-West Regional final.

It is the fifth leg of the eight qualifiers that eventually lead to the final which will be staged at the Reebok Stadium, Bolton, in June.

A record field of 210 players will compete in this weekends qualifier in Swindon.

Two venues will be in operation today at the Merlin and Woodlands Edge, Peatmoor, (12noon start). The eventual last four and board winners from each venue will progress to the Merlin tomorrow for the quarter-finals and final stages of the South-West competition qualifier.

The high class Swindon field includes world champion Taylor, 2006 world championship runner-up Peter Manley, Terry Jenkins, Alan Warriner-Little, Roland Scholten, Andrew Hamilton, Peter Evison, Ronnie Baxter, Wayne Mardle, Mark Walsh, Keith Deller, Erik Clarys, Dennis Priestley, Chris Mason, Adrian Lewis, John Lowe, Wayne Jones, Mark Durbridge , Cliff Lazarenko, Alex Roy, John Part, Kevin Painter, Steve Beaton, Colin Lloyd and local professionals Dennis Smith and Mark Thomson.

Also entered are top local players Bob Phillips, Chris Dalgleish, Darrell Townsend and Mark Cox.

Manley, the world number two, warmed up for the UK South-West Budweiser qualifier with a promotion for Bookmaker Betfred in their two Swindon offices in Bridge Street and Old Town where he took on all-comers with betting prizes being given away.

"It is only my second time in Swindon," said Cumbrian Manley. "The last was at the County Ground.

"I travel all around the country doing promotions for Betfred and enjoy it immensely I am just at the end of a three week stint.

"I am looking forward to playing in Swindon in the Bud qualifier.

"There is a big entry, which is good news for the PDC, and should be a cracking tournament.

On his world championship loss to Taylor, Manley said," When he is on top form he is on a different level to everyone else their is a rumour we are going to be allowed to use four darts against!

"It was disappointing to lose but I have just banked the cheque which was pleasing and I still hope to win the championship one day.

RONNIE BAXTER, who has just moved to Swindon, was in brilliant form last weekend in Eastbourne.

He took the top prize of £2,400 when successfully defending the JP Sports 128 Plus Classic with a 5-2 win over Colin Lloyd in the final.