ACCRINGTON snooker star Shokat Ali is hoping it will be third time lucky when he takes on former World Champion John Parrott on the opening day of the LG Cup in Preston.

Ali missed out on a place in the World Championships in Sheffield last season when Parrott recovered from 9-7 down to win in the final frame of the qualifiers.

Parrott, the world number 18, also scraped through when the pair met in last season's LG Cup, 5-4 the margin, and so Ali, 16 places below him in the rankings, is desperate to get his revenge.

He is hoping that Preston Guild Hall will be full of his supporters from East Lancashire as the pair battle for a place in the last 32 against Alan McManus.

Another man hoping to harness local support is Preston potter Ian McCulloch who is taking on Anthony Hamilton.

And the glittering prize that awaits that pair in the next round is a match against the current world number one "Rocket" Ronnie O'Sullivan.

"I love playing in Preston so it was massive for me to qualify," he said.

He is also in action tomorrow and he has been forced to miss out on another important occasion.

"A friend of mine is getting married tomorrow but I have had to tell him I can't make it," explained the world number 43.

The return of top flight snooker to Lancashire is a big boost to the county and there is guaranteed to be some brilliant action over the next nine days.

All the top names in the modern game will be in action chasing prize money totalling £597,200.

Both Ali and McCulloch came through the qualifiers at Burton-on-Trent to earn themselves the chance to have a crack at the big guns and earn precious ranking points to move them up in the world.

Anyone interested in watching the action that starts at 10am tomorrow morning is advised to call the ticket hot-line number on 01772 258858.