TROWBRIDGE snooker star Stephen Lee is hoping to make his mark on the upcoming UK Championship – so people can stop asking him whether he is still playing the game.

The 35-year-old cueman will play either Martin Gould or practice partner Robert Milkins in a best-of-17 frame fourth round clash on Sunday at the Pontin’s resort in Prestatyn.

At stake is a place in the BBC-televised stages of the event at Telford from December 5, and the world number 25 admits getting back in front of the cameras would boost not only his confidence, but also give his profile a lift.

After a first-round exit to home player Ding Junhui in September’s Shanghai Masters, Lee suffered more Prestatyn pain with early exits in the qualifiers for both the Masters and the Grand Prix – an event he won in 1998.

Lee told the Wiltshire Times: “I am where I deserve to be at the moment, but if I can get a good run in the UK event, then I should be doing okay.

“I fell into the qualifiers because of my ranking and it’s a tough place to be.

“There are quite big gaps in the snooker calendar at the moment and that makes it difficult to get any rhythm or momentum going, which is what this game is all about.

“I started the season well, but I lost a match in China I shouldn’t have to Ding and then I missed out on Scotland (the Masters).

“Because you don’t get to the televised stages of events, people ask you whether you have stopped playing. You almost don’t feel like you are a snooker player, but it’s madness, I’m playing as well as I always have been.

“You need that bit of momentum but I’m still enjoying it.’’ Lee signed a new management deal with Gloucester-based OnQ Promotions, run by Paul Mount, in the summer, Jimmy White and Milkins among his stablemates.

He added: “They’ve got a big purpose-built building up there where I can practice and they want to open a south west snooker academy too.’’ Milkins was Lee’s conqueror in the Grand Prix qualifiers, but the Wiltshireman can take heart from last year’s display in the event when he reached the quarter-finals, knocking out seven-times world champion Stephen Hendry along the way.

“I had a couple of hard days practice this week and I’m quietly confident but it’s all about on the day,’’ he said.

“I’m putting the work in and trying not to put too much pressure on myself to make it a bit of a hobby again.’’