James Wade has confessed that "can be quite lazy" as he remains determined to knock off the world's best players.

Wade booked himself a last-16 tie against Littler, the newly crowned champion, after beating World Grand Prix winner Mike De Decker 3-2 in the Milton Keynes tournament on Friday night.

Wade has previously landed titles like the , but is currently ranked outside the world's top 10. Despite that he laughed at critics who suggest his best days are behind him as he took aim at his next opponent, who has shot to the top of the sport.

He said: "I still think it's laughable that people don't think I can win things, what will be will be. I still think I'll win TV majors and I don't see any reason why not. After tonight's performance, not great.

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"I don't believe anyone's amazing apart from probably Luke and Luke [Littler and Humphries] and after that they can be quite lazy. They are not Phil Taylors. They are not Michael van Gerwens at their best, but they are phenomenal players. But there are gaps in the market and it is what it is."

Wade was not intimidated by the prospect of taking on Littler, who was suffered shock defeats in recent months. He added: "I genuinely put my hand on my heart and don't really care who I play. If I play well, I put up a fight and I do well. Obviously Luke is doing amazingly well, but it'll be what it'll be."

Littler, still only 18, is among the world's best but has stuck to his own routine en route to his success. The teenager is known for his love of and the age differential between him and some of his rivals means there can be a culture and attitude clash.

Luke Humphries, who beat Littler in the world championship final just over 12 months ago, was previously stunned by the lack of time the teenager dedicates to practicing and claimed it the past that he might not have the laugh laugh.

"You have to be careful in this game to put in enough effort. If you feel like you have got to the point in your game where you are great and you are not practising, it will come back to bite you. It is important he stays dedicated and practises hard because that is a point in the game where you can lose yourself."

"I know players who have done that, Michael Smith has openly admitted he didn't practice all last year then all of a sudden he lost his form."