Fresh from his victory in the inaugural Matchroom Premier Bowls League earlier this month, Scot Paul Foster relishes his return to Sheffield next month to compete in the Co-operative Funeralcare World Matchplay Championship.
The World Bowls Tour event - featuring the top eight players in the WBT World Rankings - will take place at the Ponds Forge International Sports Centre, for the second year, from 10-11 July.
Foster, the world number five and a three times world indoor champion, is looking forward to competing again on the unique WBT portable rink at Ponds Forge - where he clinched the engage International Open title last November.
"It was just as big as my world title wins - it was a great achievement. In fact I was beginning to wonder if I'd ever win any of the other WBT titles!
"You keep saying to yourself - 'am I ever going to win anything else?'," explained the 35-year-old from Troon in Ayrshire.
"I love Sheffield - I can't put my finger on it but I always feel relaxed there and I like the surroundings.
"Maybe it's because it's the first tournament of the season, you feel hungry to win. I always play well there."
On competing in the eight-man Co-operative Funeralcare World Matchplay Championship for the second year, Foster said: "It's always good to get invited to events like this.
"But I made a big mistake last year and only practised once before the event - and paid the price. But I'll be putting in a lot of practice this year - hoping to put in a better performance.
"It'll also be good to be able to relax and enjoy the event - without the pressure of a ranking tournament."
Foster is enjoying a new lease of life - both on and off the rink. The 2006 Commonwealth Games Pairs gold medallist married in April - and revealed this week that he and his wife Pamela are expecting their first child early next year.
"Pamela has been absolutely brilliant for me - it's great to have her with me when I'm playing bowls. It can be quite lonely out there on the rink sometimes, so to be able to look up and see in the crowd - giving you encouragement - makes a massive difference.
"She's changed my life completely - for the better! And we're both so happy about our latest news!
"I remember an all-time low at Ponds Forge in November 2005 when I lost to a qualifier in the first round. At the press conference afterwards, a journalist said 'bad luck Paul'. But I knew that just wasn't the real me," said Foster.
"Since then my attitude has changed completely - for the better. My whole outlook on life is different."
Foster is currently competing in the British Outdoor Championships in Wales. "Even though I want to do well here, I just can't wait to get back indoors - and back on the WBT portable rink at Ponds Forge."
Fifth seed Foster lines up against Welshman Jason Greenslade, the No4 seed, in the first round. The match will be a repeat of last year's International Open final at Ponds Forge, which Foster won after a tie-break to lift the title for the first time.
Action from the Co-operative Funeralcare World Matchplay Championship will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, followed by recorded highlights.
1st round draw:
[1] Greg Harlow (ENG) v [8] Andy Thomson (ENG)
[4] Jason Greenslade (WAL) v [5] Paul Foster (SCO)
[3] David Gourlay (AUS) v [6] Mark Royal (ENG)
[2] Alex Marshall (SCO) v [7] Mervyn King (ENG)
Play gets underway at 1.00pm on Thursday 10 July, with first round matches continuing at 3.00pm, 6.00pm and (approx) 8.00pm. Friday's semi-finals kick off at 2.00pm, with the final scheduled at 7.00pm.
Official website: www.worldbowlstour.com Watch all of the action live - and re-live the excitement of all matches as replays, downloads and on DVD - on www.247.tv
Thanks to Howard Harding