HE has been rapt as ball hit ball, heard the rippling applause as a long pot disappeared and nestled in the bottom of a pocket and dreamed that one day he would be basking in the crowd's adulation.

From his seat in the Barbican, Ashley Hugill watched the game's greats fight out classic battles on the green baize - hoping he would join their number and compete in one of snooker's biggest tournaments.

Now what was once a vision only present in his imagination is about to be lived in glorious Technicolor.

Next week, the 21-year-old will have all eyes trained on him as he steps out in front of a packed house ready to try and cause one of the biggest shocks in UK Championship history.

Standing in his way is one of the game's legends.

Only ten players have ever claimed the triple crown of World, UK and Masters titles. Shaun Murphy is part of an elite group.

He is also one of Hugill's heroes.

One of the Melbourne youngster's earliest memories of the game is watching Murphy win the world title in 2005 as an unheralded qualifier - an attacking machine that belied odds of 150-1 to etch his name onto the famous trophy.

Hugill modelled his game on the Irthlingborough potter and now he will come face-to-face with his idol, the world number four and reigning Masters champion, in a first round match over the best-of-11 frames at the Fishergate venue on November 25.

Do you think he's excited?

Hugill can't wait to break off and get the game under way.

"It really is a dream come true," he said. "When I first started playing, and watching the game on TV, he was always my favourite. He was the player I looked up to. At one stage, we shared the same coach and I have modelled my game on his quite a bit.

"I really can't wait. I can't wait to get out there. It is going to be quite surreal. I have gone to watch for the last few years and was always hoping that one day I could play out there.

"It feels quite surreal that this dream of mine is now coming true."

Amateurs, on the whole, have wilted under the main arena lights since they were given their chance to compete with the big guns when the York tournament went to a flat 128 draw structure. Time after time they have looked like rabbits caught in the headlights as they have been demolished in double quick time.

But if Murphy is hoping for a similarly easy ride when he gets his cue out against Hugill, he could face a rude awakening.

A rising star of the European Tour this season, Hugill has dispatched his amateur foes with the same ruthless efficiency the professionals have shown his compatriots in ranking tournaments.

He caused world champion Stuart Bingham a heap of trouble at the Riga Open - in a TV performance praised by Eurosport commentators - and then took a frame off legend John Higgins in qualifiers for the International Championship, a tournament the Wizard of Wishaw went on to win.

What struck Hugill about those games was his temperament.

"I think the experience against Bingham really will help me," he explained. "On my TV debut I was quite calm and, if I play a similar way, I can do well. I will have quite a lot of support there and I will be going to try my best. I am going there to try and do a job.

"I don't think I have got the temperament to get nervous in front of big crowds. I am quite laid back and that goes in my favour for these big matches. I will try to play like it is a practise game and stay relaxed."

He added: "I've won all my amateur round matches in the European Tour. It's good to be beating people like that - around my level - and a lot of the matches in those tournaments are close games.

"It gives me a chance at the end of the season to turn professional if I can get into the playoffs. I've got quite a few chances and it is pleasing to be playing well.

"It was great playing against John Higgins. I think the game could have been closer. There were a few frames that came down to one ball potted or one missed. It just seemed to go his way.

"The frame I did win, I made a nice break and that was good for my confidence. "

These games have not just been interesting showpieces, though. For Hugill, determined to be among the professional ranks sooner rather than later, they have proved useful educational exercises too.

"It was really good just to learn from the way he (Higgins) played his shots," he explained. "His selection is the best in the world.

"Obviously, I am trying to win these matches against these top players but I am getting these players competing at their best. They are always on their game and, a lot of the time, I have got to think 'what can I learn? What can I work on?'

"I can learn a lot - what it takes to be a top 20 player. It's good that I am playing these professionals at the moment where there is a lot less pressure. If I was a pro, there might be a bit more of that and it is good to play against the best in the world."

Thoughts of turning pro are for another day. For now, Hugill, who still plays on club tables across the city for Burnholme in the York CIU League, wants to revel in what will be his biggest moment in snooker and hope he can land a series of telling blows on one of snooker's giant personalities.

He exclaimed: "It will be great. It is the biggest tournament I will have played in to date. It's a home crowd and I really can't wait to get out there and hope that I can do my best. I am very excited."