THREE of snooker's greatest ever players and the sport's Cinderella man will star as the 2008 PartyPoker.com Premier League Snooker returns to the Pavilions next Thursday (October 23).

Seven-times world champion Stephen Hendry faces Joe Perry, while reigning world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan squares off against six-times world champion Steve Davis, live on Sky.

Both matches are over six frames, with two points for a win and a point for a 3-3 draw.

The top four players move forward to the big money play-offs in December.

Joining the quartet in this season's Premier League, but who will not play at the Pavilions next week, are John Higgins, Ding Junhui and Mark Selby.

All seven play each other once over the best of six frames, making a total of 21 matches in the 2008 league.

O'Sullivan, 32, is the defending Premier League champion and has enjoyed an unbroken run of league titles going back to 2005.

He will face Davis at the Pavilions next Thursday.

O'Sullivan said: "I've always enjoyed playing in Plymouth, going back to the days when the British Open was staged here.

"Steve is still a wily old campaigner so I won't be taking anything for granted. He has always been a player I have looked up to and he always gives 100 per cent."

Before that clash, Hendry plays Perry in the opening match of the night – and the former six-times Premier League champion will be looking to bounce back after losing 5-1 to Mark Selby in the Derby event.

The total prize fund for the Premier League is more than £250,000, and the money for the round-robin section will be dished out on a frames won basis with £1,000 awarded for each frame.

In addition, there is a 'Double Your Money' bonus for a century break of another £1,000.

Successful players carry forward their bonuses to the play-offs where the serious money is up for grabs.

The £1,000 for a century bonus stays and the champion receives £50,000. The runner-up takes home an additional £25,000 and the beaten semi-finalists make £12,500 each.