Jimmy White has vowed to thrive on his battle of the snooker legends with Stephen Hendry in Shropshire tomorrow.

The pair will clash in the most anticipated tie of the first round of the 12Bet.com UK Championship at Telford International Centre.

It will be White’s first appearance at Telford in the four years since snooker’s second biggest tournament has been staged at the venue.

“It will be fantastic to play Hendry, it will be like rolling back the years,” said White, who defeated Shropshire’s Adrian Gunnell in winning three qualifying matches to book his place in the last 32.

“I’ve had some amazing battles with him over the years. I’ve got the utmost respect for him.

“But I’m enjoying snooker. I won the World Seniors last month which has given me a lot of confidence and I’m putting in a different type of practice this season which is paying off.”

White and Hendry are due to begin their first round match around 3pm tomorrow, while Ronnie O’Sullivan begins his challenge at 7pm against Stuart Bingham.

Order of play

Tomorrow:12:30pm – Graeme Dott v Martin Gould, John Higgins v Stephen Lee, Peter Ebdon v Andrew Higginson, Neil Robertson v Rory McLeod (played to a finish).

Followed by – Marco Fu v Barry Hawkins, Ali Carter v Mark Joyce, Stephen Hendry v Jimmy White, Mark Williams v Mark Davis.

Not before 7pm – Ronnie O’Sullivan v Stuart Bingham, Jamie Cope v Judd Trump, Shaun Murphy v Patrick Wallace, Mark King v Ryan Day.

Early Monday: 12:30pm – Fu v Hawkins, Carter v Joyce, Hendry v White, Williams v Davis (played to a finish).

Followed by – O’Sullivan v Bingham, Cope v Trump, King v Day, Murphy v Wallace (played to a finish).