ACCRINGTON snooker star Chris Norbury is dreaming of The Crucible as he begins his charge for Sheffield tomorrow.

Norbury, 19, will face either Liang Wenbo or Joe Delaney in his first qualifying match for the right to play his good friend Stuart Pettman.

The winner of that match will then face Michael Holt for a place in the World Championship finals.

And Norbury says he's desperate to play on snooker's biggest stage.

He said: "This is the first time I've been so close. In the last couple of years I've been about 10 matches away so to be just three matches from Sheffield makes me even more up for it.

"It would put the cap on a brilliant year, even if I haven't played as I can in the last couple of tournaments, but to play in the World Championships would be incredible."

But to do it, the world number 77 would have to put out his close friend Pettman.

He added: "I practice with Stuart and we play for the same team on a Wednesday night so it'll be a funny game.

"We know each other's games so well so it will definitely be a new experience.

"But I've been practising hard and so I've hopefully ironed a few flaws out of my game."

Fellow Accringtonian Shokat Ali is also bidding to make it through to The Crucible in April.

He begins his campaign against either Paul Davies or Jin Long and if successful he will then face Joe Swail with the winner facing Barry Pinches in the final qualifier.