Ali Carter takes on Alexander Ursenbacher in qualifying for the China Championship on Friday.

Carter has had a mixed start to the new season as he fell at the first hurdle in the Riga Masters before reaching the third round of the International Championship, where he went down 6-2 to Mark Allen.

Carter did do enough to secure a spot in the Shanghai Masters with those results as he kept his place in the world’s top 16.

‘The Captain’ could have a real chance of challenging for the title in Shanghai as he will play a wildcard in his opener, and he will be looking to hit some form before that event in October.

The China Championship is the next ranking event and Carter will fancy his chance of seeing off Switzerland’s Ursenbacher in Barnsley on Friday.

The world number 100 impressed in Q-School over the summer with just two defeats in 11 matches but has struggled at the start of the season.

Ursenbacher qualified for the Riga Masters but went down 4-0 to Michael Holt in the first round and failed to qualify for the International Championship.

Carter is 1.18 to win and 6.00 to win 5-0 on Friday, while Ursenbacher can be backed at 4.50 to cause an upset and deny the four-time ranking event winner a place in the main draw in China.