Peter Ebdon has hinted that his snooker career may be drawing towards its conclusion.

Back injuries have prevented the 2002 world champion from playing at his best in recent years, though his appearance in this season’s Paul Hunter Classic brought about his first ranking final in six years.

There he missed out to practice partner and close friend Kyren Wilson but Ebdon has far from stopped there, set to play in tonight’s Northern Ireland Open quarter-final against Eden Sharav.

He’ll go into the game as favourite too but Ebdon knows his time at the top won’t last forever, with this season potentially being his last in the professional game.

“We’ll have to see where the career goes, it may be my last season,” he said.

“If I’m well enough to keep playing, if my back holds up, I’ll certainly take part in fewer tournaments so I can focus on other bits as well.

“I still enjoy competing, it’s the practice which is the tough thing.

“I’m very lucky that I have one of the best players in the world in Kyren Wilson to practice with, I end up taking balls out of the pockets all day – I need to get myself a set of gloves.

“It’s great practicing with him, to see how he has improved and matured – he’s some player now and has the potential, if he continues to work hard, to become very, very special.”

Watch the Northern Ireland Open live on Eurosport and Eurosport Player, with analysis from Ronnie O’Sullivan, Jimmy White and Neal Foulds