Stephen Bunting has admitted that Luke Littler’s form is encouragement for the rest of the field ahead of the Grand Slam of Darts.Littler is the defending Grand Slam of Darts champion and has won the showpiece World Darts Championship two years in a row.Littler starts his defence of this trophy at the weekendShutterstock EditorialAnd after starting 2026 on fire, it looked as if he was going to win everything.But that hasn’t proven to be the case with the teenage star crashing out of the Grand Prix in September in the first round to Luke Woodhouse.He will also be disappointed with defeats in the quarter-finals of the World Series of Darts Finals and European Championships.It is a far cry from the Littler who won five majors in the first half of 2026, and in the Grand Slam, he has a tough group.Littler will take on Beau Greaves and Niels Zonneveld, with only the winner of the group to advance.Bunting is a close friend, but from a competitor’s point of view, he admitted that the Nuke’s form is encouraging for the field.What has Bunting said about Littler’s form?Speaking to the Press Association, he said: “There’s probably a deep sigh of relief when he goes out of a tournament, I’m not going to lie.“I like him. He’s a fantastic lad. I’ve grown to know him over the last probably ten years and he’s a good friend of mine.“I wish him all the best in his career until he plays me.“We have great rivalry, not just me and Luke, but me and most of the other players, to be honest.“I think just the way the standard keeps improving, it keeps pushing us to another other levels, other boundaries, if we keep improving.”Littler recently took part in a event live streamed on Netflix that saw Fallon Sherrock collect £501,000 for beating him in one legShutterstock EditorialBunting’s own formBunting has been on the cusp of grabbing a second PDC major since triumphing at the World Masters in 2024.But with three majors coming up in very short succession, the Liverpool fan believes he is playing well enough to get his hands of another trophy.He remarked: “I feel like the confidence is there. I feel like I’m in a good place. I feel like I’m playing some of the best darts I have ever done.“So with that, obviously the confidence comes, that imprint in my brain that I’m good enough to win titles again.“And I think it’s important that you feel that way, especially coming into the back end of the year.“Three really big tournaments coming up, obviously all leading towards the World Championships, but the two before [Grand Slam and Players Championships] are exceptionally important because that gives you that confidence to go on for the Worlds.”Bunting is one of the most popular men on tour and is looking for a great end to the yearShutterstock EditorialExcitement for GreavesMeanwhile, for Greaves, this an opportunity to beat Littler on the big stage.It will be the first time they’ve met since she beat him in the World Youth Championship in October 2025.And on Saturday night, the English duo face off, with Greaves failing to hide her excitement.She stated: “I think he’s the best [player in the world] in my eyes, I think he’s fantastic to watch, he’s been amazing, so I always imagine he’s going to play really well.“I don’t want to go in there thinking, ‘oh he’s not on form’, or he’s struggling, because then I would just be terrible, so I’ve got to go in there thinking ‘he’s going to absolutely smash me’, and just play my game, and try and take any chance I can, and just enjoy it.“I think it’s going to be a good game just to watch, and just to be a part of it is special. I look forward to playing it.”