JOE Cullen will head into his seventh appearance at the PDC World Darts Championships in an unusual position – as favourite.

The 27-year-old former Wyke postman is still waiting for that elusive victory on the biggest stage in the sport.

But he will step out under the London lights on December 19 as the 28th seed after breaking into the game’s top 30 for the first time.

That means he will start as the fancied player against the winner of a qualifier between Sun Qiang and Corey Cadby.

China’s Qiang is making his second visit to Alexandra Palace after a nervous debut last year which saw him bust on 133 in his opening leg.

But 21-year-old Cadby, from Tasmania, is tipped to be Australia’s next big thing in darts. He goes by the nickname of “the King” and shocked Phil Taylor with a win in the World Series of Darts earlier in the year.

Cullen will be taking nothing for granted, even after a year which saw him reach his first major quarter-final, defeating Stephen Bunting on the way to the UK Open last eight.

But a kinder draw makes a change for the perennial first-round faller who has seen his recent hopes dashed by losing to finalist Peter Wright in 2014, eventual winner Michael van Gerwen a year later and semi-finalist Jelle Klaasen in double quick time 12 months ago.

Should Cullen get through, he is scheduled to face fifth seed Adrian Lewis – the current runner-up – in round two in the final match before the Christmas break on December 23. Lewis must beat Magnus Caris first.