STEPHEN Lee takes aim at world glory next week but admits even he is stunned by his sensational return to form in recent months.

Lee, who trains at Swindon’s 147 Club, takes on world number 19 Andrew Higginson in the opening round of the Betfred.com World Championship on Monday having arrived at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre as the game’s form player.

The 37-year-old has reached at least the semi-finals in his last five tournaments, reaching two finals and winning his first ranking event in six years at the Players Tour Championship Grand Finals in Ireland last month.

After reclaiming his place in the top 16 late last year, the Wiltshire man has gone from strength to strength and is ranked eighth going into the global showpiece.

Lee’s superb turnaround has caught the eye of many of his rivals and the man himself admits the start to 2012 has gone better than he could have expected.

“I didn’t see it coming, to be honest,’’ he said. “It’s nice that people are talking about me again and I always knew I was capable.

“I knew I was good enough but until you go out there and do it, it doesn’t matter.’’ Lee’s target at the start of the year was just to retain his top 16 ranking and he added: “I knew I needed a good month (between February and March) but I wasn’t expecting it to be that good.

“I wanted to get away from 16th place in the rankings because Ronnie (O’Sullivan, three-time world champion) was behind me and one great performance from him could have knocked me out.

“But Ronnie spoke to me (at the China Open) and said ‘well done’ for my recent results, which was a good feeling.’’