Bradford's Simon Bedford has an extra incentive to win his first qualifying round match in the China Open today at the Newport Centre in South Wales.

Victory over Staffordshire's Troy Shaw would put the 24-year-old left-hander up against his Cuedos clubmate Jason Prince tomorrow (2.30pm).

But Bedford sensibly isn't taking his contest for granted against the 30-year-old from Rugeley, who, like his opponent, has won three of his first four matches in the two ranking tournaments played so far.

"Troy is a fine player, and I just want to win my opening match," said the Fairweather Green resident.

"I have only played him once before and beat him 5-3 at Blackpool two years ago, but I cannot look beyond him."

Shaw is already through to the third qualifying round of the British Open. There he will be Joe Johnson's first opponent of the season next Thursday (6pm).

Prince, who has won both his matches so far in Newport - he is exempt to the second qualifying round of each event - expects his practice partner to triumph. "Troy is no mug, but Simon is playing really well at the moment and I think he will win. His confidence is up," he said.

Bedford began his Newport campaign in tremendous form, defeating Darryn Walker (Wolverhampton) 5-1 in the first qualifying round of the British Open.

"I played out of my skin," admitted Simon. "I had a 96 in the first, won a scrappy second and then won on a re-spotted black to go 3-0 up.

"Darryn then had a 70-odd to pull back a frame, but I finished him off with a 99 and an 80.

"Then I was the complete opposite in my second qualifying round match against Steve Judd (Nottingham).

"I played diabolically to lose 5-3, but I should have been 4-0 up. I think I was overhyped after playing so well in my first match."

Things went better for Bedford in the second qualifying tournament - the Grand Prix - but only just.

'Blizzard' Bedford beat Lee Richardson (Thame) 5-4 from 4-2 down and then John Lardner (Glasgow) 5-0 to give himself a third qualifying round match against Bradley Jones (Croydon) a week tomorrow.

"Lee was 2-0 ahead," said Bedford, "but I recovered to be 2-2 at the interval in what was a bit of a scrappy contest.

"Then I played so badly to lose the next two frames that I thought 'Why don't you just give him the match?'

"However, I relaxed and won the last three frames in just over half an hour, and he only got nine points in those.

"I think playing so poorly must have woken me up. Then I played well again to beat John Lardner."

The big breaks came much more readily against 28-year-old Lardner, Bed-ford having efforts of 84, 68 and 58 in going through.

Bedford has been on and off the main tour in the past two seasons, whereas Prince, 30, has been in the sport's top flight for ten years since turning professional.

The Ulsterman did suffer a blow to his pride in dropping out of the top 64 last season. But he has started to repair that damage by defeating youngsters Lee Spick 5-3 in the British Open and Jason barton (Liverpool) 5-4 in the Grand Prix.

"My match against Lee was tremendous. The lowest break to win a frame was 51," said the amiable Prince.

"We swapped the first four frames in making breaks of 70, 60, 50 and 70, and then I had a 100 and an 80, he had an 80 and I had a 59. Lee, Jason, Ryan Day and Stephen Maguire are all young lads and names to watch for in the future."