POTTER Paul Davison admits he is in the “last chance saloon” as he bids to regain his place on snooker’s professional tour - but the Pickering player says he will have never been better prepared when he tackles Q-School.

The 43-year-old narrowly missed out on regaining his card when agonisingly knocked out in sudden- death in both the amateur play-offs and the northern final of the English Amateur Championship.

He fell to Martin O’Donnell and Michael Rhodes (8-7) in the respective competitions when the prospect of resuming a tour career which has spanned two decades was tantalisingly close.

Now Davison will travel to the Meadowside Leisure Centre, in Burton-upon-Trent, as he seeks to make it third time lucky.

He said: “If I’d got through against Martin I think I would have won the last round in the playoffs and now Q-School is the last chance saloon. Michael Rhodes played a great last frame against me but I am looking forward to Q-School.”

Eight places on the professional circuit are up for grabs with all the semi-finalists in the two tournaments being guaranteed a place until the end of the 2016/17 season.

Davison begins his campaign with a tough opener against the winner of David John or Mark Davies and, with the likes of Adam Duffy and former World Championship semi-finalist Andy Hicks lurking in his side of the draw, he will need to be at his best.

But having been among the favourites in last year’s Q-School, only to suffer early exits as he blamed burnout, Davison believes he is much better placed this time to progress.

“I am practising well and hitting the ball nicely,” he added. “I have got a tough first round draw. David John used to play three or four years ago and he was always a great player. Adam Duffy is one of the better players as well.

“I am going to be better prepared this year. A year ago I had just lost in the world qualifiers and had dropped off the tour. I wasn’t quite ready and I needed a little bit of a break. I came back fresh and started the European Tour events by getting to the last 32.

“I have been practising really hard in the last two to three weeks and have been playing consistently better. I have been working to improve my game and am much keener. If I concentrate on my own game and play well then everything will take care of itself.”