Neil Robertson reckons he must silence Ronnie O’Sullivan’s rowdy help early on Thursday afternoon of their Masters quarter-final.
The 34-year-old initially from Australia however now primarily based in Cambridge admits that clashes between the pair at all times have the texture of an Ashes-style rivalry.
Individuals’s Champion O’Sullivan, going for a document seventh title at Alexandra Palace, is assured of raucous and partisan backing in his personal London again yard.
However Robertson thrashed the Rocket 6-1 in the identical event two years in the past, and can draw on these recollections regardless of two huge losses to O’Sullivan final yr.
And he’s sure that exerting an early stranglehold and stamping his authority on the match will quieten O’Sullivan’s followers and provides him the very best likelihood of success.
Robertson, who gained the Masters 5 years in the past, mentioned: “It at all times seems like Australia in opposition to England within the cricket after I play Ronnie.
“You definitely can really feel like you might be up in opposition to the gang enjoying him, particularly right here on the Masters on his dwelling patch.
“And in case you are not prepared for it, then it may well get to gamers that form of help and affect them.
“It’s like in soccer for those who go to Stamford Bridge or Previous Trafford, you want to maintain the gang quiet early so that they don’t have something to get enthusiastic about.
“When you can put strain on him right away then he can miss just a few they usually get annoyed.
“He’s the one participant the place the gang can affect you, and that’s the reason it’s at all times a unbelievable environment if you play him. I can’t wait.
“Regardless of the current defeats, three or 4 of the titles I’ve gained I beat Ronnie alongside the best way and I’m seeking to win as many huge titles as doable now.
“We performed twice final yr, final season within the Welsh Open last which I let slip a bit actually, after which this season on the European Masters in Romania when he performed fantastically effectively.
“He was virtually unpayable that day, however I really feel as if I had gone into that match within the kind I’m in now, it will have been a special story.
“I used to be off my recreation and he took benefit, he can try this to anybody. And within the Welsh Open I used to be 5-2 up, might have been 6-2, and he bought on a roll when he has onerous to cease.
“I misplaced the plot going out to China and that frustration boiled over within the subsequent few occasions. I wasn’t actually capable of put issues proper as there weren’t the gaps within the schedule.
“And we had a run of 4 weeks the place for those who have been struggling you missed out on some title and cash, sadly that occurred to me.
“However I practised actually onerous over Christmas, and likewise over in Norway on Kurt Maflin’s desk there the place I used to be spending time with my household.”
