TERRY Jenkins hopes practice makes perfect when he takes part in the Ladbrokes.com World Championships later this month.

The 47-year-old concedes he has not spent as much time at the practice boards in between tournaments this year but has, instead, opted to recharge his batteries.

But The Bull has stepped up his training in the last few weeks in a bid to end his year on a high at the Alexandra Palace showpiece.

Jenkins faces 20-year-old qualifier Joe Cullen on Tuesday, December 21, at the event, an opponent he describes as an “up-and-comer”.

The Ledbury star has slipped from fifth place in 2009 to seventh in the PDC world rankings in a year where his highlight was reaching the quarter-finals of last month’s Grand Slam of Darts after he had finished bottom of the Premier League table earlier in the year.

But the former antiques dealer hopes a good display at the World Championships will give him fresh impetus for next year.

He finds himself in the bottom half of the draw, meaning he cannot meet defending 15-time champion Phil Taylor until the final of the tournament, held between December 16 and January 3.

Jenkins reached the third round of last year’s tournament before losing 4-2 to eventual runner-up Simon Whitlock after he had overcome his first round jinx at the London venue.

He hopes 2011 is also his year to win a major event, after being runner-up in seven PDC televised finals.

Jenkins concedes he may even opt to play in more PDC players’ championship tournaments next year to boost his ranking.

He said: “Joe is a really good player, one of the up-and-coming stars, one to watch. I will have to be on my game.

“I’ve done alright this year, I’ve held my own considering I haven’t put any practice in for most of the year.

“I’ve just started practising again two weeks ago.

“I needed a bit of a break from it as I’ve played solidly for six or seven years. The travelling kills you, going away every week.

“I’ve been playing a lot of exhibitions this year, they’re a bit of fun.

“Next year I think I will concentrate on the Players’ Championships more.

“I try to do a couple of hours of practice a day.

“You can over-practice sometimes, it’s good to do a little bit every day rather than having a few days off and then doing more in one day.

“There’s a lot of players out there who would love to do what I have in the game.

“I’m ranked seventh and I’ve let it slip a bit this year.

“I’m not bothered whether I go into the Premier League or not next year.”