DORSET star Scott Mitchell is set to get his 2022 season underway this weekend, as he looks to quickly put the end of 2021 behind him.

In his debut year, Mitchell impressed on tour, securing a spot at both the Players Championship Finals and the World Championship.

However, both events ended in resounding defeat for the 51-year-old.

After edging past Martijn Kleermaker 6-5 in the first round of the Players Championships event in Minehead, Mitchell was crushed 6-0 by eventual semi-finalist Jonny Clayton in round two.

The former BDO world champion then headed into his first PDC worlds at Alexandra Palace a few weeks later as favourite to overcome Dutchman Chris Landman.

But he had a debut to forget, swept aside 3-0 in sets to end the year on a low.

Now, after more than a month without a competitive game, Mitchell is set to return at the Barnsley Metrodome this weekend for the opening events of the PDC Pro Tour season, against the rest of the 128-man field.

Looking ahead to the 2022 season, Mitchell told the Daily Echo: "I’m looking forward to getting back on the Pro Tours, but I know there’s going to be 28 players that (picked) up a tour card in January, like I did (in 2021).

"They’re going to be absolutely buzzing, like I was and take off like a racehorse like I did last year.

"I’m going to be on the other side of watching that now.

"Some of the guys I’ve been with all year lost a card now and were battling to try and get theirs back.

"So I am in a fortunate position that I had a card and I know exactly where I’m going next year for the year. So it could be a lot worse. I’m not going to let one game (at the worlds) spoil a season."

He added: "It’s kind of a long break (since the worlds), five or six weeks.

"The annoying thing is I probably practised more in the last six weeks (before the worlds) than I have in probably two years.

"And I probably played two of my worst games in the world!

"But I think you do just come through the other side of it. I think it was the just situation that got me, not the practice or anything else."

Mitchell is set to compete with the sport's elite on both Saturday and Sunday in Barnsley.