Snooker / Editor / 28 October 2008 /

The Premier League continues on Thursday with two mouth-watering clashes, involving three multiple world champions and snooker's brightest rising star - Mark Selby. Cormac O'Keeffe takes a look ahead...

John Higgins v Stephen Hendry

John Higgins should have enough to see off an out-of-sorts Stephen Hendry in the evening's opening game. Hendry is in the worst form of his life and looked more like a journey-man than a seven-time champion of the world when thrashed 5-1 by Joe Perry last week. He lost his other match 5-1 to Mark Selby and finds only Steve Davis between him and the bottom of the league. As with Jimmy White and Steve Davis it is sad to see such a great champion struggle so much with the game and miss so many easy pots.

Higgins, who will have little sympathy for his fellow Scot, will punish any mistakes severely and should win comfortably. Higgins has been consistent if not spectacular this year and in the Premier League has secured draws from losing positions against both Ding and O' Sullivan and should consolidate his position in the all-important top four with a win. Apart from Premier League strugglers Davis and Hendry, Higgins is the only man not to have scored a century in the league this year but he is a tough match player and won't mind if the frames get scrappy.

Ronnie O'Sullivan v Mark Selby

This should be the best game of the league so far. O' Sullivan has been at his mercurial best in the last few weeks of the league, whitewashing Steve Davis and Ding Junhui in the last two weeks. Of all the players on the circuit, O' Sullivan is the best suited to the shot clock as he is naturally the quickest player and only a fool would bet against him winning the Premier League again this year.

He won't have it as easy this week as Mark Selby is showing a return to the form that saw him reach the World Championship final two years ago and win the Masters and Welsh Open at the start of this year. The rest of his season was a big let down, especially his first-round defeat at the World Championship to Mark King but his 100% record in the League shows that he is back on song. Like O' Sullivan, Selby has had some impressive wins in the last few weeks, whitewashing Steve Davis and a 5-1 win over Stephen Hendry.

It should be an exciting and close match but O' Sullivan's greater experience and comfort with the shot clock should see him through. Expect some big breaks and great entertainment from two of snooker's biggest showmen.

Recommended Bets:
O' Sullivan @ [2.16]
Higgins @ [1.76]
Higgins and O' Sullivan double [3.8]

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