Murphy targets fast start

Murphy: Premier League return

I find some of the other stuff just a little bit boring, but I find the quick-fire snooker is fantastic and I don't know any snooker player who doesn't themselves enjoy watching the Premier League.

Shaun Murphy
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Premier League Snooker:
S Murphy v J Higgins
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Live on Sky Sports 2 from 7.30pm Thursday.

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Shaun Murphy hopes to get off to a fast start when he marks his Premier League return with a World Championship final rematch against John Higgins on Thursday.

The snooker roadshow arrives at Great Malvern on Thursday, live on Sky Sports 2 from 7.30pm, with Murphy taking on Higgins and Judd Trump playing Stephen Hendry.

Murphy made the semi-finals of the season-opening Shanghai Masters, and after a good start to the season he is hoping to make an impact on his return to Premier League snooker.

"It's a much better start to the season than last year, losing four first-rounders, so I was confident that I couldn't possibly make as bad a start as last year," said Murphy.

"This is the second time I've played in the Premier League now so hopefully my good start will continue.

Busy

"We're all trying to be as busy as possible, that's the way we like it, we like playing opportunities here, there and everywhere - it keeps us busy and keeps you sharp."

Higgins beat Murphy at the Crucible in May to lift the world title once again, but former world champion Murphy is hoping to exact more revenge on the Scotsman.

"I got him back the week after the World Championships in the World Series grand finals, I played him in the semis in Killarney in the Champion of Champions and I beat him in that so he's already had a double dose of revenge - lets hope its three on the trot.

"When you go up against somebody who's the world champion, the world's a big place, and to be champion of the world is very special, but that does mean that people like to take the odd pot shot at you and I'll be no different tonight."

Murphy is excited to be back in the Premier League, with the shorter matches and 25-second shot-clock very much to his liking.

Enjoyment

"I love it to be honest, I really enjoyed it when I played in it and it's one of the few sporting things that's easy to watch for a sportsman. I find some of the other stuff just a little bit boring, but I find the quick-fire snooker is fantastic and I don't know any snooker player who doesn't themselves enjoy watching the Premier League.

"I think you can make too much of the shot clock to be honest. I think if you studied the stats very few players take longer than 25 seconds on their shots anyway, so I think it's a bit of a myth, if you start thinking about the shot clock you end up running around the table."

Murphy hopes the likes of the Premier League can really take off - and added to the calls for the sport to try an emulate the success of Premier League darts by raising the fun element for the spectators.

"I think its good fun, we like the loud environment and everyone having a good time and I think snooker could be a bit more like the darts.

"People like going to the Premier League darts because they have a great time and I think snooker could definitely benefit from that."