The two-day Bahrain Darts Masters event will conclude with quarter-finals, semi-finals and the showpiece final on Friday. Littler has already guaranteed himself £2,500 by making it to the quarters, while a win over Aspinall would see him take home at least £5,000 for reaching the semis.
The victor in the Middle East will bank a tidy £20,000, leaving £10,000 for the runner-up. In any case, Littler is scheduled to return to England on Saturday, leaving plenty of time for preparation ahead of the Dutch Darts Masters later this month.
A gruelling Premier League schedule will begin on February 1 in Cardiff. The 17-week competition is set to pit Littler against the world’s finest darts players, including Humphries, giving him a shot to avenge his Ally Pally defeat.