GRIMSBY potter Stuart Carrington is ready to recapture a place on the Main Snooker Tour.
The 22-year-old, who endured a tough debut season on the circuit in 2011, will battle for a professional place alongside 11 other hopefuls this weekend.
Drawn against practice partner Jeff Cundy for the qualifying event in Sheffield, Carrington will have to win two matches to seal one of three spots for 2013/14.
And having clicked into top gear ahead the crunch meeting with his close friend, the Grimsby cueman is confident of delivering the goods in South Yorkshire.
Carrington said: "The way I have been playing has set me up really well. My results have been really good and that has filled me with confidence for the weekend.
"It's a bit disappointing that me and Jeff (Cundy) can't both get on the Tour, it would have been nice for us both to get one of the three places – but that wasn't to be.
"It can be difficult playing against a good friend, but you have to put that aside and make it feel like any other game – we both want to win, and will both be gunning for it.
"I've been playing consistently for a while, winning most games in one or two visits – which is obviously very pleasing for a snooker player."
The PTC (Players Tour Championship) event in Sheffield won't be Carrington's only chance of a return to the summit, though, as the World Snooker Q School kicks-off on May 11.
However the Grimsby man – who won the Paul Hunter Memorial Open last month – is determined to avoid the trickier path back to the top.
Carrington added: "This weekend is a really good opportunity for me to get back on the Main Tour, and if I manage to do that it means I won't have to go through the Q School.
"That's obviously a lot harder to do, because there are five matches at each Q School event, where as there are only two in the Sheffield play-off."
While Carrington will face a stern challenge from Cundy, and the other competitors, he will at least be able to rely on fine personal form.
During his victory at the Northern Snooker Centre, in Leeds, the Grimsby potter registered two century breaks (135 and 121), and 13 runs of 50 plus.
Beating professional Craig Steadman (5-3) in the final, Carrington saw off no fewer than four players from the Main Tour.
He added: "It couldn't have been a tougher draw for me. I beat the two highest ranked players in the competition, so I couldn't have asked or done any more.
"Out of all the events I've ever played in, that was the most consistent day I've ever had. I was knocking in 60, 70 and 80 plus breaks for fun.
"Winning this couldn't have come at a better time. Hopefully my hard work in practice is finally starting to pay off."
