“[The crowd] acquired their cash’s value. I feel they wished 15-all however that final leg, I simply needed to keep targeted,” he advised Sky Sports activities.

“I did not actually panic. Leg by leg, Andrew began to win a couple of on the trot, however on the final leg, towards the darts, I simply needed to recover from the road.

“He performed his half, it is very powerful. Andrew by no means goes out of rhythm, he is the identical throw by throw. I simply needed to discover a rhythm to match him.”

Littler teased there could be “fireworks” within the fourth quarter-final and Rock delivered.

Each the 24-year-old (104.02) and Value (100.21) averaged above 100, however it was Rock who seized the second, profitable three consecutive legs to open up an 11-8 lead after which extending his benefit to 13-9.

Value rallied to make it 13-11, however Rock – who beat three-time champion Michael van Gerwen in spherical two – closed out the match in model, profitable the final three legs and producing a checkout of 164 within the remaining one.

“I am on cloud 9 on the minute. What a recreation,” Rock advised on Sky Sports activities.

“I used to be similar to, ‘Josh, you are doing nothing mistaken, you are taking part in your individual recreation, glad days’. The shape Gerwyn’s in, what to anticipate.

“Littler’s one among my closest mates behind the scenes. I hope we each flip up. Hopefully it is going to be a cracking recreation.”

The semi-finals will happen on Saturday night with England’s James Wade going through Jonny Clayton of Wales, earlier than Littler’s assembly with Rock.