IAN McCulloch is ready to cause snooker shock-waves tomorrow when he faces world champion Graham Dott at the famous Crucible Theatre.

The Walton-le-Dale potter, who spent most of his professional career practising in Great Harwood, appears to have been handed the toughest draw at this year's World Snooker Championship.

Defending champion Dott is in the form of his life, provisionally ranked number one in the world, and heading to Sheffield on the back of winning the China Open title.

But for McCulloch, the thought of taking on Dott at the legendary venue holds no fear.

And the omens certainly look good for the likeable 36-year-old Lancastrian.

He is yet to lose a professional match to Dott, and en-route to his semi-final appearance in 2005, McCulloch beat the Scotsman 10-9 in a close first-round battle.

"It's a very big game. From a coverage perspective, it's a fantastic game to have," said McCulloch.

"I'm not worried about playing Graham at all. He's playing very well at the moment and has just won in China, but I've got a very good record against him.

"I've never lost to him as a professional, so it's obviously going to be a very tough game for him.

"Is he the best player at the moment? He's provisionally number one, and obviously not just been put in there. He's the biggest points earner over the last two seasons."

McCulloch's brilliant surge to the last four two years ago - when he was eventually defeated by Matthew Stevens - remains his career highlight and it was a narrow first round win over Dott that began the run.

He added: "I played very, very well and made a fantastic clearance on the last frame when I was 60-odd behind.

"I know what Graham's strengths and weaknesses are and I've got to try and exploit those weaknesses and put his strengths down a little bit if I can.

"But I'm in good nick myself, and I'm physically fit. I'm training and practising hard."

Dott and Shaun Murphy, the 2006 World Champion, proved unlikely winners of the prestigious tournament, and McCullough was an outsider when cruising into the semi-finals three years ago.

After seeing off Dott, McCullouch brushed aside Mark Williams and Alan McManus before succumbing to Stevens 17-14 in a tight tussle.

"It was a special moment for me," said McCullough. "There's a lot of players that never get to Sheffield and there's players that get to Sheffield and never win a match.

"There's even less players that get down to a one-table situation at the Crucible.

"So when my days are over, it is something I can always look back on with pride, saying 'I did it, I got there' "But it would be nice to say 'I got there and won the tournament'.

"It's five matches to win the title, but it's five very tough matches and it's against the best players in the world on the biggest stage in the world.

"It's dog eat dog and you've got to be the dog with the biggest teeth!"

McCullough insists nerves won't get the better of him on the big stage, as the Crucible Theatre celebrates its 30th anniversary hosting the World Snooker Championships.

The Sheffield arena is regarded as one of the most intimidating venues in sport, and McCulloch admits he thrives in front of the big crowds and cameras.

He revealed: "The Crucible is fantastic. It's so small, so intense, the crowds are brilliant and to get good matches on both sides of the curtain, it ends up being a fantastic atmosphere.

"I've been very fortunate that I've played a lot of great matches there over the last eight or nine years.

"It's the sort of place that if you are mentally ready and have prepared well, you can do well."