Davis and Parrott are both former world champions

The pair, who are both part of the BBC commentary team, have not met at the Crucible for 16 years, when Parrott won 16-12 in the semi-finals.

That avenged Davis's 18-3 win in the 1989 final - still a record margin.

"We've played a few times over the years and I'm looking forward to the game," Davis told matchroomsport.com.

Davis, 49, has not faced the 42-year-old Parrott, who won the 1991 world title, since the 2000 Irish Masters.

I cannot think Ronnie would be too happy playing someone as dangerous as Ding in the first round Steve Davis

"The day before the match we will be recording some link together for the BBC then playing each other, but it's not a personal thing. John won't say a word to me during the match," said Davis.

"I'm pleased for him that he's got to the Crucible. He's got there on merit and it also helps his cause in keeping as high as he can in the rankings.

"You know what you get with established players and what they're capable of and you can't get a bigger stage than the World Championships."

The pick of the other first-round ties sees Ronnie O'Sullivan paired with China's Ding Junhui.

"It will be interesting to see what happens after the Masters (when O'Sullivan thrashed Ding 10-3 in the final) and interesting to see if Ding can recover but I think he would," said Davis.

"I cannot think Ronnie would be too happy playing someone as dangerous as that in the first round but in some ways it doesn't matter who he plays as sometimes he beats himself."