Ronnie O’Sullivan admits he is excited by the prospect of returning to the top of the world rankings ahead of his Tour Championship final with Neil Robertson.

The five-time world champion has not been world number one for nine years but will sit at the top of the tree if he lifts the trophy in Llandudno on Sunday evening.

The ‘Rocket’ beat fellow Englishman Judd Trump on the final black of the 19th frame in their last-four encounter and will now face Australia’s Robertson, with the showpiece set to start on Saturday evening.

It seemed Trump would prevail until he missed a match ball yellow, but O’Sullivan was given another opportunity and held his nerve to sink the black.

The veteran cue-man has virtually won everything the game has to offer and he confessed that returning to the pinnacle of the sport is something he is proud of.

“You’ve got to enjoy the moment sometimes,” he told BBC Sport. “I’m 43, 44, knocking on and I’m not sure there’s going to be too many of them (chances).

“There’s very few people that have been the best in the world and the greatest at what they’ve done, so I feel like I’m in that bracket.”

O’Sullivan, who is 3.60 to win at the Crucible next month, is a 1.33 favourite to beat Robertson in the final, with the opening session set to begin on Saturday evening before the match is played to conclusion on Sunday.

The Aussie world number eight is on offer at 3.30 in the best-of-25 frame match.