Bond has elite return on his mind

It's up to me just to get on with my game and not worry about my opponent

Nigel Bond

Nigel Bond is eager to make the most of his good early season form and work his way back into the world's top 32.

The Derbyshire cueman, 43, faces Stephen Maguire in the first round of the Grand Prix in Glasgow on Tuesday.

And Bond said: "I've started the season well, winning my qualifying matches. I feel as if I'm hitting the ball well.

"I started well down the provisional rankings in 42nd, but if I can win a couple of matches this week I could be back in the top 32."

Bond, who lives in Old Tupton, was unlucky to 5-4 to Marco Fu in the first round of the Shanghai Masters - the first ranking tournament of the season.

And he is fully aware that Maguire will provide the toughest of tests despite talk of him suffering with a shoulder injury.

"Apparently there's been a fair bit written about it in the Scottish press, but I've not seen any of that," Bond said.

"It's up to me just to get on with my game and not worry about my opponent. They say beware the injured snooker player so I've no doubt he'll be up for it.

"He's number two in the world so it's bound to be a tough match. The last time I played him was in the quarter-finals of the China Open in Beijing last year and he beat me 5-0; he's a very good player."