Mark Selby claims it is 'pointless' for any snooker players to go into a match against Ronnie O'Sullivan without thinking they can beat him.
The pair could meet at the Players Championship this week and Selby is upbeat about his chances of beating the seven-time world champion.
O'Sullivan has not played a competitive match since beating Alfie Burden in a qualifier for the World Open on January 23.
He withdrew from the German Masters in order to prioritise his 'health and wellbeing', while he chose not to play the Welsh Open due to 'anxiety' and 'stage fright'.
Mark Selby has revealed the secret to playing Ronnie O'Sullivan
Getty
But after almost a month away from the table, O'Sullivan will make a return at the Players Championship on Tuesday evening.
He takes on China's Zhou Yuelong, while Selby will play his first-round match against Barry Hawkins on Wednesday afternoon.
O'Sullivan has won the last three tournaments he has entered but has been very critical of how he has played.
Rival players such as Neil Robertson have also pointed out that the Rocket has not been anywhere near his best.
Four-time world champion Selby agrees with Robertson that O'Sullivan has not performed at his top level of late.
However, he says he has an aura that other players are intimidated by.
Selby told the Metro: "That [aura] just comes from winning. If you draw Ronnie in a comp you know he’s won the last three tournaments so straight away you know he’s playing well.
"Although I agree with Neil, I don’t think he’s played at the top of his game in a lot of the tournaments.
"But he’s created that aura himself with what he’s achieved in his career. Similar to Phil Taylor at the darts. He was the same.
"A lot of players had already lost before they’d stepped on the stage, I think that’s the same with Ronnie, apart from some of the top boys who play him don’t really fear him and believe they can win."
O'Sullivan and Selby will meet in the quarter-final in Telford this week if they win their first-round matches.
Selby has had plenty of joy over the current world No 1 in the past, including beating him in the final of all three Triple Crown events.
The 40-year-old says the secret to having a chance of beating O'Sullivan is having plenty of self-belief.
Selby added: "Don’t get me wrong, no one beats him all the while, but if you go into a match believing you can win then you’ve got half a chance rather than thinking you’ve not got a chance at all.
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
Mark Selby could meet Ronnie O'Sullivan at the Players Championship this week
Getty
"I just know that if I’m playing as good as I can play, I believe in my own ability, I can win.
"Whenever I play Ronnie I don’t think I can’t win. I know it’s going to be a tough game but I believe in myself that I can. Whether I will or not is a different thing.
"Obviously he’s beat me more times than I’ve beat him, but it doesn’t mean to say I don’t believe I can win. It’s pointless going out there if you think like that."
Selby has had a difficult season so far but is participating in the Players Championship due to being in the top 16 on the one-year ranking list.
Ronnie O'Sullivan is back in action this week after almost a month's break
Getty
But he hasn't reached a final, let alone won the tournament since its inception in 2011.
He admits he doesn't have the same fear factor for opponents that O'Sullivan has.
Selby said: "I don’t know, that’s not for me to say. Hopefully they do, but a lot of players seem to play well against me so I’ve probably not got a fear factor.
"I just go out there and try and play my own game, try my hardest. If it’s good enough great, if it’s not, go again next time."
