There will be two wildcard competitors called Davis walking out into the arena for the last-ever Benson & Hedges Masters snooker tournament in the next 48 hours.

Six-times former world champion Steve will be contesting the event, which takes place in the cavernous Wembley Conference Centre venue, for the 22nd time.

But for Hastings' Mark Davis, ranked a career-high 33 in the world this year, this represents the first opportunity to pit his talents against the top 16 players in the world, and his more illustrious namesake, in the most prestigious invitation knees-up of them all.

The Sussex star admits he has never been to the scene of some of snooker's most memorable nights, not even as a spectator. And the prospect of his first-round match against 1994 champion Alan McManus tomorrow has represented a shining light at the end of the tunnel during the hard slog of tour qualifiers since Christmas.

"I've never been to Wembley and it's just something I'm really looking forward to," he said. "I've spoken to other players about the Masters and they all say it's the size of the arena that hits you. To be honest, the whole thing's a huge bonus.

"If I can beat Alan, I'll be playing in front of a big crowd on Tuesday night against Paul Hunter, in front of the BBC cameras. But even tomorrow I should have a few people there cheering me on.

"McManus will obviously be tough, he beat me the only time we've played, and is very solid with an excellent safety game. Personally, I like to get on with it and play my shots, but whatever happens, you've got to play well to beat the top 16 boys."

And Davis, who practises at the O'Sullivan's club in Bexhill, has the scalps to make that possibility more than just wishful thinking, including memorably a 5-1 win over Ronnie O'Sullivan in the 2001 Regal Scottish Championship, a result he describes as "my best win in the game to date".

The 30-year-old's time as a pro has been characterised by a steady climb towards the summit of the game but he admitted: "I haven't achieved all that I would have wanted in snooker, though I've had my moments, like beating Ken Doherty at the Crucible in the world championships.

"Then, two years later when he ended up winning it, he beat me 10-8 in the first round. At 9-8 I was 20-odd up and had him snookered on the last red. He only just got out of it and ended up becoming world champion."

Davis owes his participation at the Masters to a little-heralded October B&H Championship victory in Mansfield. However, he does arrive at Wembley the proud owner of one of the game's more astonishing records. "I've got three brothers, and all of us have made centuries," said Davis. "That can't have happened too often."

Whatever the outcome tomorrow, Davis has just one ranking tournament opportunity left this season to secure the points needed for a breakthrough into the world's top 32 after he lost 10-8 to Shaun Murphy last night in the world championship qualifiers.

Davis said: "I still have a slim chance but now I shall have to do really well in the European Open."

If Davis can grab some headlines, it might serve to kick-start a Sussex snooker scene.

He said: "I practise a lot with Jimmy Robertson at Bexhill, who is a good young player in his first year on the full Tour. But it would be fantastic to see some other youngsters coming through."