PROFESSIONAL snooker returns to Preston Guild Hall after a two-year absence on Friday and Shokat Ali can hardly wait.

The Accrington-based world No 40 has more than one reason for being delighted that the £600,000 LG Cup is being staged in Lancashire from October 12 to 21.

With his home only 10 miles away from the venue, he will be able to sleep in his own bed. And he has produced some of the best performances of his 10-year professional career at the Guild Hall.

The 31-year-old who captained Pakistan at the 1996 World Cup in Bangkok, beat Jimmy White (5-4) and Ken Doherty (5-3) on his way through to the last 16 of the Grand Prix when it was held at Preston in 1998.

But he knows he will need to reproduce that level of form if he is to make similar progress in the LG Cup.

His draw could hardly be tougher. Ali meets 1991 world champion John Parrott in the first round at noon on Saturday with the winner going through to meet reigning UK champion and world number three John Higgins in the last 32 on the Monday afternoon.

"The Guild Hall has been a lucky venue for me," he said. "We always seem to get good crowds in Preston and I know both the players and the public were disappointed when the UK Championship left there.

"All the players I have spoken to enjoy playing at the Guild Hall and the place has got strong snooker traditions.

"From a personal point of view, it's ideal for me. All I have to do is get out of bed in the morning, go down to the club for a couple of hours' practice and then travel down to the venue so I should be well prepared for my match."

Ali, who practices with Preston pro Ian McCulloch and close friend Dave Harold at John's Snooker Club in Blackburn, can also count on home support. He has already put in a large ticket request for his opening match with Parrott, who won the UK Championship at the Guild Hall in 1991.

"John doesn't live a million miles away from the venue so hopefully, there will be a decent crowd. When I played Jimmy in Preston the match was a sell-out," he said.

"I'm not looking any further ahead than my first match. It's going to be tough but reputations don't count for so much these days. Players aren't so worried about meeting the big names as they were during the Steve Davis era. There are shocks in the early rounds of every tournament."

That has certainly been the case in last week's Stan James British Open in Newcastle with seven-times world champion Stephen Hendry and world number one Mark Williams among the early casualties.

Ali failed to make it past the first round, losing 5-3 to David Gray, but he was not too disappointed. "I won all my three qualifying matches at Newport in August and I'm happy with the way I'm playing in practice," he added.

"I don't like to make predictions or set myself too many targets, but I've got to be pushing for a place in the top 32 this season. That's where I want to be."

Ali already has one claim to fame. He made snooker history when he became the first billiard sports gold medallist at a major multi-sports Games -- the 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok.

He had to settle for the bronze when he represented Pakistan at the Akita World Games in Japan last month, but enjoyed the experience.

"It wasn't quite the same as playing in a world ranking tournament, which is my bread and butter, but I was happy to play my part in trying to get snooker into the Olympics," he added.

"We've got a chance of being included in the programme of events at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. If we do get in, hopefully I'll still be around to take part."

TICKETS for the LG Cup, which start at £2.50 (£1.25 for OAPs and children under 12), are currently available from the Guild Hall Box Office or by ringing the ticket hotline on 01772 258858.