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Stephen Maguire is hoping that a badminton injury won't affect the defence of his Northern Ireland Trophy at the end of August.

The world number two suffered a wrist injury when enjoying a leisurely game with practice partner Marcus Campbell at the start of July.

Although the injury is serious enough to be hampering his practice, Maguire is confident he will be prepared to defend his title at the Waterfront Hall on August 24.

"I was playing badminton with Marcus and I fell over hard and landed with my hand pushing into my ribs," Maguire said. "At the time it wasn't really painful, but then a couple of days later I woke up and it was very sore, I couldn't even sit up.

"I've been to the doctor but they won't give me an x-ray because even if the ribs are cracked, there's nothing you can do about it except rest.

"There are a couple of shots I can't play at the moment, but it should be perfect by the time we go to Belfast, I'll have no excuses."

Maguire is hoping to build on a fine 2007/08 season, in which he also won the Honghe Industrial China Open and made a 147 in China.

And the Glaswegian says staying in the top two of the world rankings is one of his aims for the upcoming year.

"My aims are to stay in the top two. If I stay in the top four then that's ok, although even if I finished number three I'd be a bit disappointed to have gone down.

"And I'd also like to win at least one more tournament. I also want prepare well for the Worlds and give it a really good shot. I want to win that one within the next couple of years."

Alex Sharratt / Eurosport