With a record seven world titles under his belt, the 39-year-old Scot is a legend in the game. However, his best days are behind him and the 22-year-old Antrim star is quietly confident that, for the second successive year, he can eliminate a world champion - 12 months ago he famously brought down Ken Doherty.

Mark, who has been practising hard in the Fountain club with Northern Ireland's other championship contender, Joe Swail, agrees that Hendry is not the force in the game he was throughout the 1990s. But he has the utmost respect for a player who was his boyhood hero.

"Results haven't been good for Stephen in recent times, but he is still a dangerous opponent and on his day he is capable of beating anyone on the circuit," said Mark, who will have the backing of about 15 supporters from Fountain when his first round match commences at 2.30 on Sunday afternoon. Nine frames will be played in the session and the game will conclude on Monday afternoon, with Allen, hopefully, earning the right to meet Ding Junhui or Mark Fu in the next round.

Allen has climbed to No. 15 in the provisional rankings and if he overcomes Hendry he will be certain to retain a place in the elite top 16 next season and won't have to qualify for tournaments.

Mark, who reached the quarter-finals of the China Open last month, picking up a cheque for £6500, will tackle Hendry encouraged by an emphatic 9-4 win over the same opponent in the last 32 of the UK championship in Preston in December. "Stephen has been a great player, but I firmly believe that I can beat him again," said the young left-hander, who returned to England on Sunday and will be involved in premier league qualifiers in England early this week before travelling to Sheffield on Friday.

"I haven't yet made my name on the world stage, but I am satisfied with the progress I have made since I turned professional," added Mark, whose targets next season will be to break into the top eight and to win a major tournament. Longer term, he has ambitions of realising a boyhood dream by lifting the world championship trophy.

Should Allen get past Hendry, who hasn't won a tournament since the Malta Cup in 2005 and has slipped to No. 8 in the ranking list, he expects Mark Fu to be his next opponent. "Ding has enjoyed tournament success, but he hasn't lived up to expectations."

The closest Hendry went to adding to nearly 40 ranking tournament victories came this season when he reached the semi-finals of the Welsh Open. There are times, judged by the pained expression on his face, when it seems that the Scottish multi-millionaire is no longer in love with the game. Mark does not believe that.