Four-time world champion John Higgins is just one win away from booking a spot in the main draw of the German Masters as he prepares to take on Chris Wakelin in the second round of qualifying on Friday evening.

Higgins is yet to win a tournament this season – his best result a runners-up finish at the China Championship – and he recently hinted he could retire from the sport after a second-round exit at the UK Championship.

The Scottish star has been struggling to replicate the kind of form that handed him three titles last season, but he showed signs of revival in the first qualifying round in Barnsley and will be looking to keep that momentum going.

Now 43, ‘The Wizard of Wishaw’ whitewashed Iranian Soheil Vahedi 5-0, with a break of 129 in frame three the highlight of the match as he progressed into the next stage of qualifying.

Englishman Wakelin now stands between Higgins and a place at the German Masters and the latter will be feeling confident of picking up a victory, having beaten his opponent 5-2 in their one and only meeting at the 2017 China Championship.

The Scot, who is a two-time winner of the German event, is the 1.25 favourite to claim all the spoils and his English foe is quoted 3.80 to cause an upset at the Metrodome.

The season will take a break for Christmas after qualifying concludes for the German Masters, with action returning on New Year’s Day in Coventry with the Championship League (1).

The Dafabet Masters then follows shortly after – the tournament running from January 13-20 – and Higgins, who takes on Ryan Day in the first round, is 11.00 to lift the trophy.