Wishaw snooker star and life-long Celtic fan John Higgins admits the Hoops' successful season in the Scottish Premiership has him in a good frame of mind to chase a fifth World title at the Crucible this month.
The 47-year-old is Celtic daft and paraded his World Snooker trophy at Parkhead when he won his first world title back in 1998 and he hopes to repeat that feat if he can go and claim another crown in Sheffield in the next fortnight.
The World Snooker Championships get underway on Saturday and Higgins admits he goes into it on a high after watching his team beat Rangers in Sunday's Old Firm derby, which sent Ange Postecoglou's men 12-points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership to all but seal the title.
And Higgins now hopes he can get his hands on some silverware and meet the Hoops boss for a double trophy celebration at the end of the season.
“Ange Postecoglou has been amazing for the club he has come in and everybody just loves him, so for as long as he stays at Celtic I think we can look forward to more games like the weekend for, hopefully, years to come," he told STV.
“That’s maybe why I am feeling so good just now.
“It would be a dream to be able to go and parade another world championship at Celtic Park and meet big Ange, that would be an amazing feeling.”
The Wizard of Wishaw is set to make his 29th consecutive appearance at the World Championships and goes into it off the back of a tough start to the season, which sees him sit 38th in the one-year rankings and 11th in the world standings, which include the last two years' performances.
However, he still has belief he can find the game to add to the titles he won in 1998, 2007, 2009 and 2011.
He added: “I think I am still good enough to win it, it’s a long 17 days and it takes a lot out of you, but if I hit my best form for those 17 days then I think I can win it.
“The standard is higher that it’s ever been, without a doubt, you can look at some of the players.
“In the past you had [Steve] Davis and [Stephen] Hendry, but I just think when you look at the standard throughout and the level the guys are playing at, then it’s without doubt the highest it’s ever been.
“This season has been a tough season and I haven’t competed in a lot of the big tournaments, but I managed to win a smaller event last month so that’s gave me a little bit of a gee up and I feel my game is coming together at the best time.
"This week is a special week leading up to it, the nerves are jangling already and I can’t wait to get down there and play.
“When you go down there it feels special to be a snooker player."
Follow Lanarkshire Live Sport on Twitter via @LanLiveSport, like us on Facebook or find us on Instagram for the latest sports news, pictures and video.
