Murphy - can defeat Higgins.

By Jeff Anderson

Sky Bet's Odds Compare All Prices

BETTING BOX
FIXED ODDS
	3pts Shaun Murphy to beat John Higgins at 11/8 (totesport).	Murphy was a bit tentative in the group stage but now at the business end can show his class.
	2pts Judd Trump to beat Ronnie O'Sullivan at 9/4 (totesport).	Trump has really shone on debut and fears no-one.
	1pt double Shaun Murphy and Judd Trump at 6.72/1 (totesport).	See above.

Premier League action concludes this weekend in Hopton On Sea and the semi-finals on Saturday see John Higgins up against Shaun Murphy followed by Ronnie O'Sullivan versus Judd Trump.

Murphy has a decent chance against the Scot in the opener.

The 2005 world champion started slowly in the league not helped by some poor run of the ball but he kept faith in his cue action to deliver and the belief that all the hard work he has been putting in would soon pay off.

Finally he produced some decent snooker to scrape into the play-offs even though his form was still a bit patchy. But this may give backers an opportunity because he is playing much better than these results suggest and fancies himself to win not just this match but to go all the way and take the title.

His opponent on the other hand has been flattered by results. Despite topping the group never at any stage has Higgins looked completely comfortable or capable of steamrollering an opponent in this format.

The Scot is priced favourite on the back of results in this campaign but Murphy at 11/8 with totesport is too big and should be taken.

In the second match of the night, the Rocket will be giving it his utmost to try and lift a sixth successive league title.

It's a joy to watch him now when he knows that no longer can he consistently make the opening middle distance pots and instead has to rely more heavily on his acute understanding of the science of the game to create opportunities. In the balls he's still as good as ever but for the first time in recent league history he looks there for the taking.

The draw has worked out well for him in the semi's playing the perceived weaker opponent in Trump although the youngster won their group match.

Trump is very dangerous here now. To qualify for this from Championship League Snooker was a total shock for him and now he's made the semi's on the back of some remarkable coolness under these cauldron conditions he won't be at all fazed by his opponent's pedigree or the final berth on offer.

Layers have priced this up as if the group result was a one off. But I'm not so sure. The Rocket is in decline.

Yes it's marginal at the moment but it won't get better and his opponent is supremely confident and is a shotmaker - a critical quality in this environment. Trump should be backed at the generally available 9/4.

The double pays over 13/2 - again with totesport and is also worth a small interest.