Final with Rocket is Ding's dream

Ding Junhui booked his place in the final of the Pukka Pies UK Championship - and then declared it doesn't matter who he faces in tomorrow's snooker showpiece.

The Chinese star, winner of this tournament in 2005, overcame a below par Stephen Maguire 9-5 last night, and will face the winner of today's second semi-final between world leaders Ronnie O'Sullivan and John Higgins.

Said Ding: "I think it will be very, very hard whoever I play. They are both good players - but I'd like to play Ronnie.

"I haven't played him a lot and he's very relaxed. I look at him and then I play well and start to relax."

Last night's win left Ding in his second successive final - and after losing to Neil Robertson in the final of the Grand Prix earlier this season he'll be keen to go one better in Telford.

And he admitted his clinical 134 clearance in frame 11 was a turning point in the semi-final.

"It's crazy. I've never done this before (reached back-to-back finals). I think I'm getting better and better with each match I play," he said.

"At 5-5 there was big pressure on me and I was lucky in the next frame when he potted the red and went in off leaving me with an easy chance.

"I kept concentrating and made a big break which gave me a lot of confidence.

"He came back to 5-5 and for him to lose the next frame quickly to go 6-5 down was good for me because he was gaining momentum and that stopped him."

His beaten opponent Maguire backed the 22-year-old to cause an upset in tomorrow's final.

"Ding looks good in amongst the balls, he looks very good," Maguire said.

"Obviously Ronnie and John, consistency wise, are playing better than anyone, but there's not much in it.

"If Ding plays well then what can the other guy do - Ronnie can't come off the seat and push him off the table and John can't either, so he's definitely got a chance."

Tomorrow's final will be the best of 19 frames, with play starting at 1pm and resuming at 7pm.