Van Gerwen takes on Chris McTernan, an Adhesives Technician from Bacup in Lancashire, in the first Round One game on the main stage at Bolton's Reebok Stadium.

That will be preceded by two high-profile Preliminary Round games, with Lazarenko opening the action against Chris Daglish and Carver taking on another Punch Taverns Qualifier, Mark Hylton - an Airline Cabin Manager from the West Midlands nicknamed "Mile High".

Pub qualifier Eddie Hughes will be another player living the dream, after being drawn against Welshman Burnett on the main stage in front of the Sky Sports camers.

Friday's Second Round sees Andy Callaby, a quarter-finalist last year, meet in-form Welshman Sean Palfrey, while David Platt and Matt Chapman also clash on Stage Two.

Mark Walsh, the UK Open runner-up in 2005, will begin his bid against Ireland's Garrett Gray, who qualified for the World Grand Prix last October.

2004 finalist John Part comes in on Friday night at the Third Round stage against Kevin Dowling or Matt Sheehan, while the tie of the night sees Mark Dudbridge and Ronnie Baxter clash.

Alan Warriner-Little meets Wayne Jones on the main stage, with Northern Ireland's Brendan Dolan returning to the spotlight after being drawn against Bob Anderson.

Dave Askew and Dennis Smith come head-to-head on the second stage, with another of last year's defeated quarter-finalists, Alex Roy, meeting Dave Smith.

The Fourth Round draw will be made immediately following the conclusion of the Third Round on Friday evening. Defending champion Raymond van Barneveld and two-time UK Open winner Phil Taylor are among the top 32 ranked players to come into the tournament at this stage.