Shaun Murphy aims for a repeat UK Championship victory

Last year's UK champion Murphy won the world title in 2005

Shaun Murphy has targeted a successful defence of his UK Championship title in Telford as well as reaching the top of the world rankings.

Winning the UK title would see the world number three close the gap on Ronnie O'Sullivan and Stephen Maguire.

"Steve Davis used to say if he wasn't number one he didn't want to know," Murphy told BBC Radio Shropshire.

"I've never been to number one so I don't know what that's like but I want to make an assault on top spot."

If Murphy wins the UK crown, he would be only the third man in the 32-year history of the event to win back-to-back titles - following in the footsteps of Davis (1980-81 and 1984-87) and Stephen Hendry (1989-90 and 1994-96).

"Snooker isn't littered with repeat winners, it's not something that happens very often," he added. "If I can add my name to that list then I will be a very proud man."

The idea is to get to 10 frames first but also trying to keep your fingernails intact if you can

Shaun Murphy

Murphy is not in the same half of the draw as world number one O'Sullivan but could meet Maguire in the semi-finals, who he lost to at that stage in 2007.

"Maguire's someone who hasn't featured for a while," Murphy said. "But he's a previous winner and he's second in the world rankings, so don't be surprised if he turns out a result this week."

Murphy, who beat Marco Fu 10-9 in last year's final, starts his defence against Gerard Greene at the International Centre on Saturday, 5 December.

He upset the form book last year, as he lost his opening match in four consecutive ranking events before going all the way to the top prize in Telford.

"I couldn't really have come here last year in worse form or any lower on confidence," said the 2005 World Champion, who was runner-up at the Crucible last season.

"Once I got myself in the event I was able to play quite well. The final was a bit too tight for my liking. The idea is to get to 10 frames first but also trying to keep your fingernails intact if you can."