Pickering snooker professional faces a crucial match tonight in his bid to keep his place on the sport's Main Tour circuit.

He plays Dave Brown Gilbert, of Derbyshire, at the Norbreck Castle Hotel, Blackpool, in the second qualifying round for this year's Embassy World Championship.

Davison, resident professional at Filey Snooker Club, has had a poor run in qualifying events so far this season. Double ranking points are at stake in the Embassy Championship and Davison needs to win two qualifying matches this week to feel confident of avoiding dropping out of the Main Tour and going down to the Challenge Tour circuit next term.

Having started the season tanked 98 in the world he has slipped to 102 in the provisional rankings, while 22-year-old Gilbert, who turned professional only two seasons ago, has shot up to 93 in the provisional list after starting the season at 239.

Updated: 11:32 Tuesday, January 28, 2003