Second round action comes to a close in Bendigo on Thursday as the 2012 Australian Open picks up pace, with Neil Robertson and Ding Junhui among those aiming for Quarter-Final places.
As with most ranking events in the modern game, the title race looks to be wide open, with big guns including Stuart Bingham and Mark Selby having already exited the competition.
Many of the remaining players will now feel they have a great chance of challenging for a major ranking title this weekend and bolstering their position in the world rankings.
The first of three sessions on Thursday features Barry Hawkins taking on Matthew Stevens in a repeat of their World Championship last 16 encounter.
The duo contested a 24-frame thriller at the Crucible in April and left-hander Hawkins will be out to avenge his 13-11 defeat to the Welshman when they meet again on Thursday.
Hong Kong ace Marco Fu runs into giant killer Jamie Burnett in the other game in the morning session, as Burnett looks to kick on from his victory over Mark Selby on Wednesday.
Matthew Selt, conqueror of reigning champion Stuart Bingham in round one, faces Ryan Day in a close-looking last tie, while the main event of the second session sees Chinese star Ding Junhui up against the methodical veteran Peter Ebdon.
The match plays host to a stark clash of styles, with the attacking based Ding up against the methodical man known as 'The Force'.
The pair have had contrasting runs to this stage, with Ding whitewashing Alan McManus 5-0 in his opener and Ebdon edging a tense last frame decider against Michael Holt.
The tie of the round takes centre stage in the final session as home hero Neil Robertson faces the in-form Mark Davis.
Left-hander Robertson has now been installed as the 3/1 favourite to win the title on home soil, but faces a tough test in his next match against recent Six Reds champion Davis.
The Thunder from Down Under produced the stand-out performance of the tournament so far in defeating Nigel Bond 5-1 in his opener and knows he must continue in that vein if he is to challenge for glory this week.
Hastings cueman Davis is currently on the crest of a wave and will be hoping to continue his quest to break into the world's top 16 with a strong run in this event.
Martin Gould plays China's rising star Cao Yupeng in the final match of day four and one that promises to be a highly entertaining encounter.
Despite suffering from food poisoning in the run up to his opening match, Gould managed to see off Ken Doherty and will be out to banish his miserable run of late by reaching the latter stages Down Under.
Yupeng sent home world finalist Ali Carter after winning his wildcard match and is proving that his impressive debut at the Crucible this year was no flash in the pan.
Play begins at 4.00am BST, with selected matches from each session being streamed live over the best of nine frames from the Bendigo Stadium, Australia.
Australian Goldfields Open Order of Play
Thursday July 12
Round Two - (LS = Live streamed)
4am
26) Marco Fu v Jamie Burnett
20) Barry Hawkins v Matthew Stevens (LS)
Followed by (approx. 7am)
19) Matthew Selt v Ryan Day
24) Peter Ebdon v Ding Junhui (LS)
10.30am
21) Martin Gould v Cao Yupeng
Betting Tip:
A £10 accumulator for Ryan Day, Cao Yupeng, Ding Junhui and Neil Robertson to win their matches pays £70 with
Bet365 
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