It is a repeat of their meeting in the first round at Sheffield last year - when Selby caused a major shock in triumphing 10-4.

Selby has emulated Terry Griffiths (1979) and Murphy (2005) in becoming the third qualifier to reach the final.

He said: “You can’t do the business on a bigger stage than Sheffield so I know I can stand up under pressure. I managed to stay positive at 16-14 and gave it my all and managed to come out the winner.

“In the final frame I didn’t feel calm even if I looked it. When I got in the balls I thought ’if I get one chance I’m just going to go for it 100 per cent.’

“I felt ’I might never get a chance again. I might never get to the final again’ so once I had a chance I thought ’just take it by the throat and go for it’ and I managed to come off the winner.”

As for his meeting with Higgins, 23-year-old Selby said: “If I am going to be fazed, I think it will be in the first session but the one-table situation is the same as the semi-final so I think I will be okay.

“I’ve got enough left in the tank. I am going to give my all whatever. If I come out the winner, everything is rosy. If not, I’ve done brilliant to get to the final. I am going to give it 100%.”

Murphy insisted he will be at the Crucible to support close friend Selby after his exit from the competition which means he will be number two in the world rankings for next season behind Higgins.

He said: “I am devastated to lose but, if I was going to lose to anyone, I am pleased it was Mark and I hope he goes on and wins the title now.

“He is one of my best friends. It is one of the hardest matches I’ve played because of that and I hope he goes on and win it.

“I never thought at any stage that I was going to lose the match even when I went a few frames behind. I think the key about the match was when I was 5-1 up and I had my foot on his throat.

“I don’t remember what happened but he got out of the session 5-3. He was showing early signs of nerves. He had never played in the one-table situation before and I think that affected him.

“Whether it was human error or not, it was something I shouldn’t have done and I think those couple of frames I lost there have come back to haunt me.

“Now I shall support Mark. I only live 10 minutes away and now my interest in the tournament has finished, I am here to support Mark.

“It might hurt me a lot to come back here to watch the snooker. But I will be here in some form watching Mark and cheering him on and I just want him to do well and, if he plays like that, he will win.”