Selby believes Doherty demands respect

Mark Selby has saluted snooker's Renaissance man Ken Doherty as he prepares for a showdown with the former Crucible king at the Betfred.com World Championship.

Doherty was in danger of being shunted off the tour as he lost match after match over two miserable seasons.

But the 40-year-old is back to performing like his old self and poised to return to the top 32.

Considering the rankings are based on two years of results, another strong campaign next season should see Doherty soaring back into the top 16.

Selby would have preferred an easier first-round draw, but he believes taking on a player of 1997 world champion Doherty's calibre may work in his favour.

Ahead of their tussle, which begins on Saturday, Selby said: 'The good thing is I go into the match knowing I need to be on my toes, because Ken has been there and done it and knows what it's all about.

'He's not one of the players who will go to go to the Crucible and freeze or not really start off that well.

'I will need to be on my toes from the word 'go' but that's probably good for me.

'He's a class act. Obviously everyone goes through periods in their career where they are going to struggle.

'But I think it was always going to be just a matter of time before he got his form back.'

The keenly-anticipated match begins on the first evening of the championship and concludes in Sunday's afternoon session.

Leicester cueman Selby has experienced a mixed season to date, struggling in several ranking events but winning the Masters title at Wembley for the second time in three years.

'I've been playing really well and that's the frustrating thing about it,' the 26-year-old said.

'Obviously come the Masters I was able to show what my form has been like in practice.

'But it's very difficult at the moment because there are only six tournaments, so you could be playing really well but just having a bit of bad luck here and there, and before you know it you're out of a few tournaments and you've not done a lot wrong.

'Over a period of six tournaments you can't really show how well you are playing because it's hard to get any consistency and rhythm as the tournaments are so far apart.

'But hopefully by starting this year by winning the Masters and having a good run in the Welsh Open that can kickstart my season.'

Selby is not looking too far ahead, but he could face Stephen Hendry in the second round and Ronnie O'Sullivan in the quarter-finals.

He said: 'In the last few years I've not had the best of draws but if you go on to win it you've got to beat these players anyway, whether you play them early in the tournament or later on.'