John Higgins will play his first competitive snooker match after a six-month ban from the game on Friday.
The three-time world champion plays his comeback match in the EPTC5 event in Germany after being cleared of a match fixing scandal that has seen him suspended from the sport since May.
While his counterparts go into this competition, the 11th of a 12-tournament series, desperate for a decent result to secure or force their way into the top 24 in the Order of Merit, the challenge the Scot faces is far tougher, and maybe more significant.
This competition marks the beginning of a very tough climb to winning back his reputation, which has been all but shattered since the scandal broke on the day of the 2010 Crucible final.
After being cleared of the charges September, Higgins vowed to return to the baize stronger than ever. He spoke like a fighter. But now that return is here, the challenge appears to be daunting him a little more than he perhaps imagined.
I guess maybe this is because he's realised the thickness of the cloud that hangs over his name.
The former world number one said in the Sunday newspapers: "When the result came through, I was like, 'Right I'm going over to Germany and I'll show them all", but now as the day gets closer, it's like going to the dentist.
"You make the appointment and as it gets nearer you think, 'oh no'. I'm a bit nervous about how the players are going to take to me. It's just something I'll have to deal with."
Higgins' name has been put through the ringer since the story broke, and I know the allegations don't sit easily with some players on the tour. I doubt the Scot can expect a welcome back with open arms when he walks into the players lounge in Germany. His reception I'm guessing will be frosty at best.
His best his friends on tour will be glad to see him, and in time I expect him to be accepted back into the family that is, professional snooker players.
How his fellow professionals will take to him on his return is one thing, the fans are a completely different beast though. How they react will probably not be truly known until he arrives at Telford for this year's UK Championships in December.
If he thinks winning back the players' faith will be tough, well he'll be in for an even bigger fright when he faces the backlash of snooker's fondest fans.
The three-time world champion plays his comeback match in the EPTC5 event in Germany after being cleared of a match fixing scandal that has seen him suspended from the sport since May.
This competition marks the beginning of a very tough climb to winning back his reputation, which has been all but shattered since the scandal broke on the day of the 2010 Crucible final.
After being cleared of the charges September, Higgins vowed to return to the baize stronger than ever. He spoke like a fighter. But now that return is here, the challenge appears to be daunting him a little more than he perhaps imagined.
I guess maybe this is because he's realised the thickness of the cloud that hangs over his name.
The former world number one said in the Sunday newspapers: "When the result came through, I was like, 'Right I'm going over to Germany and I'll show them all", but now as the day gets closer, it's like going to the dentist.
"You make the appointment and as it gets nearer you think, 'oh no'. I'm a bit nervous about how the players are going to take to me. It's just something I'll have to deal with."
Higgins' name has been put through the ringer since the story broke, and I know the allegations don't sit easily with some players on the tour. I doubt the Scot can expect a welcome back with open arms when he walks into the players lounge in Germany. His reception I'm guessing will be frosty at best.
His best his friends on tour will be glad to see him, and in time I expect him to be accepted back into the family that is, professional snooker players.
How his fellow professionals will take to him on his return is one thing, the fans are a completely different beast though. How they react will probably not be truly known until he arrives at Telford for this year's UK Championships in December.
If he thinks winning back the players' faith will be tough, well he'll be in for an even bigger fright when he faces the backlash of snooker's fondest fans.
Grudges may be held, but professionalism will ensure he's accepted in time.
It's the strength of ill feeling among the fans which could take longer to remove.
In the world of snooker fans, there's a very strong sense of black and white. Despite being cleared, in the eyes of many fans, rightly or wrongly, he's still guilty.
Messageboards and social networking sites across the globe saw fans branding him a 'cheat' and calling for him to be banned for many years, if not life.
The smear across Higgins' name last . It's difficult to judge exactly how his return will go down, but I imagine the healing period will be long.forever.
A lot of people in snooker feel let down. You can't just turn that around overnight. All the results in the world may not make a difference. Some fans will never forgive him. Others will in time. Higgins has got to be prepared to tough it out before winning back hearts.
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