Ronnie O'Sullivan and defending champion Mark Selby will tackle Crucible debutants in the first round of the Betfred World Championship.

Five-time winner O'Sullivan, who has a house in Epping, will face Manchester cueman Craig Steadman, who at the age of 32 is set for his bow at snooker's most prestigious tournament.

Selby will tackle Norway's Kurt Maflin, who came through 10-9 in the final qualifying round against Irish veteran Fergal O'Brien on Wednesday night. Their match will take place over Saturday morning and evening sessions, as the tournament gets under way.

Judd Trump faces another tournament newcomer, as he goes head to head with Grimsby's Stuart Carrington, a player he faced frequently in the junior ranks.

The fourth Crucible novice this year is Scotland's Anthony McGill, who goes head to head with fellow Glaswegian Stephen Maguire in round one.

McGill is relishing that tussle, which will take place over Saturday and Sunday, saying: "It's a great achievement, just getting to the Crucible. It's nice to see new faces there and it's nice to be one of them.

"I don't rate myself anywhere near the same class as the Scottish guys that have gone before me. I'm just trying to get the best out of me.

"I went into the Crucible on Wednesday to have a look and I couldn't believe how small it looks. It looks like a place where when things are going wrong you'd rather be anywhere but there, but when things are going right it looks good, so fingers crossed I can put on a show.

"I've been watching people walk out down that little corridor since I was a kid.

"I'm just amazed I can get to play there at least once."

Steadman will have until Tuesday to mull the prospect of tackling O'Sullivan.

He visited the theatre to watch his friend Nick Dyson play Ken Doherty in 2001, but said: "I told myself I'd never go again unless I was playing there. Last year I won a couple of qualifying matches before losing to Dechawat Poomjaeng, but my sponsor wanted to go to the Crucible.

"So I sulked a little after my defeat and then I said, 'Right, we'll go for the day', and I watched about five minutes before I walked straight back out and sat in the players' lounge.

"As a snooker player it's not nice to sit there watching when you could be playing. You've got to earn a right to be there and I've done that now and it's brilliant.

"When you get to the Crucible, I've heard horror stories about walking down the stairs and your legs start crumbling. I wouldn't have minded getting there when I was 18, when I had a full head of hair and I was better looking."