Three-time world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan takes on resident Welshman Mark Williams in a mouthwatering Welsh Open Last 16 tie in Newport on Thursday.

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The two have a huge fanbase, but loyalties will be divided on Thursday as they go head-to-head for a place in the Quarter-Finals.

O'Sullivan picked up from where he left off at the German Masters in Berlin last week by brushing aside Marco Fu 4-1 on Wednesday.

Pressure has been lifted from the Rocket as he is safe in the knowledge that he will not have to qualify for this year's World Championship following the first round exit of his nearest challanger Mark Davis.

In comparison Mark Williams narrowly made it into the Last 16 after a 4-3 victory over Andy Hicks. The Potting Machine failed to live up to his nickname after missing an array of long pots but held his nerve in the decider.

Both players are capable of upping the gears and are certain to provide a highly entertaining encounter on Thursday afternoon.

The duo have a rich history of meetings, with their most notable match coming in the 2010 Masters Semi-Final; O'Sullivan narrowly prevailing 6-5 on that occasion.

The bookmakers make Ronnie the favourite, priced at 4/7, with Williams a 5/4 chance with Bet365.

The winner could face Judd Trump in the last eight should the young Bristolian get past Stuart Bingham in the evening session.

The match begins at 1pm and will be streamed live over the best of seven frames from the Newport Centre, Wales.