To "check out 130 from the kitchen" like his upcoming opponent, he'd have to throw at a bit of an angle, Merk explained with a laugh.
According to him, Peter Wright "didn't show what he’s really capable of" and would surely "step it up a notch."
Of course, this year has shown that the Scotsman can be inconsistent. But for Merk, who prefers to focus on his own game, that's not something to worry about. If he can "bring his game" to the stage – and he's confident he will – then he believes he can beat Wright.
In their head-to-head, Snakebite was only superior in the opening match when it came to checkouts.
While Wright had a 57.5% success rate, Merk managed to hit doubles with 40% of his darts. For the German, though, that's a solid foundation.
Anything over 33% on the checkout rate would be "not bad, but higher is always better, of course."
Wright shows respect for Merk's debut
Whether he's already thinking about a possible clash with Michael van Gerwen if he beats Wright isn't on Merk's mind just yet.
He admits "he has of course looked at the draw, but is realistically taking it round by round," with his focus "entirely on the match against Wright".
"Van Gerwen hasn't even won his first match yet," Merk adds.
Even though Merk returned home a few days after his opening match, he's still following the action in London, especially the matches involving the other German players.
That included seeing Niko Springer bow out last night. Merk said he "really felt for him", as Springer gave him the "impression that being the favourite put him under pressure."
Nevertheless, debutant Merk admitted that it's "extremely difficult to stay focused and mentally strong on stage."
He managed that well in his match against Huybrechts, but that could have been beginner's luck.
In his game, Merk somehow managed to quickly shake off any nerves that cropped up. Nerves might not even be necessary for the German’s second match at Alexandra Palace.
After all, "Wright has raised his game and has respect" for Merk's performance.
On December 23rd, it will be decided whether the man from Lower Saxony can take another step forward. The confidence and momentum are certainly there.
