Stephen Hendry, the seven times the world champion, anticipates a tough time at the new Bahrain championship next week, writes Neil Goulding.

The Scot has struggled to produce his best form this season, and his task is not made any easier having been drawn against the promising Ricky Walden in the first round of the ranking event.

Walden, the world No.35, defeated Ronnie O'Sullivan to win this season's Shanghai Masters, having beaten Hendry 5-4 on the way to his first ranking tournament title.

"He Walden is a very good player, it's not an easy match," said Hendry. "There really are no easy matches these days. You can't turn up for tournaments and be guaranteed a place in the quarter-finals. Ricky's beaten me this season and won a title."

Hendry, world ranked No.6, reached the semi-finals of last season's world championship but has not won a ranking title since the 2005 Malta Cup. He lost 5-1 to Stephen Lee in the second round of the Northern Ireland Trophy, to Walden in the first round in Shanghai and 5-2 to John Higgins at the Grand Prix in Glasgow.

"I've moved my practice table into my garage at home and I'm finding that's helping me," said Hendry. "Ihad a good win against Johnin the Premier League last week, which was good for confidence, but I'll have to play well because Ricky will be confident of beating me."