The world number 23 has fallen so far down the rankings he is incredibly no longer guaranteed a place at Sheffield's Crucible theatre.

Hendry is due to take on Chinese cueman Yu Delu and the 43-year-old admits having to go through qualifying is 'not enjoyable'.

The Scot, who dominated the sport during the 1990s, knows the importance of approaching the game with the right attitude, stating any negative thoughts will result in defeat.

Attitude

"I've got the attitude that I just go there to win," explained Hendry on his upcoming qualifier.

"I don't go there hoping to play well, or hoping to play fantastic snooker, I just go there to get the match won and that's the main thing.

"I don't think I'll enjoy it. To have to qualify for the Crucible, where I've won seven world titles and had a great career, is not going to be enjoyable.

"But I'll just knuckle down and the important thing is to win the match. It doesn't matter how I win, I've just got to win it.

"It's all about having the right attitude. If you go there with the wrong attitude, depressed that you've got to qualify, you'll lose."

Strange

John Higgins is pulling for his fellow Scot to avoid an upset, so that the tournament throws up the possibility of the pair playing each other at the Crucible for the first time.

"That's one of the players I think I could be drawn against," reigning world champion Higgins said.

"If you look at the career Stephen's had, and I've done not so bad myself, for me and him to never have played at the Crucible is strange.

"We've never even got close to playing and I would love to play Stephen Hendry at the Crucible. I think it would be a great occasion for Scotland."