England number one James Willstrop is seeded to retain his men's title in next month's British National Championships in Manchester, from 12-17 February.

But the 24-year-old world No6 from Pontefract in Yorkshire will face determined local opposition from British Over-35 Open champion Nick Taylor in the first round, according to the draw issued today by England Squash.

The championships, in their 12th successive year in Manchester and sixth year at the National Squash Centre in Sportcity, have attracted world class fields from throughout the UK.  In addition to the men's and women's open events, the tournament will feature Masters championships in age-group categories ranging from Over-35 to Over-70.

Willstrop and Manchester-based Taylor were team-mates in the National Squash Centre-based Manchester/Pontefract side which won the Premier Squash League title in 2004 - and both know the NSC's spectacular all-glass court well. 

Willstrop, who won the national title for the first time last year, is expected to progress through to the semi-finals - where he is scheduled to face England team-mate Peter Barker, the third seed who clinched the world team title for England in December after winning the deciding match against Australia.

The left-hander from Upminster in Essex begins his 2008 Nationals campaign against a qualifier.  A quarter-finalist for the past two years, Barker is expected to reach the semi-finals for the first time.

Second seed Lee Beachill, whose distinguished National Championships' record includes three titles and six successive final appearances from 2001-2006, also faces a qualifier in the opening round. 

The 30-year-old from Pontefract will be making his tournament comeback in the Nationals after undergoing hernia surgery at the beginning of this month.  Beachill has a tough route through to the final - where he is expected to meet England and Pontefract Club team-mate James Willstrop. 

A predicted second round clash with fellow Yorkshireman Simon Parke - the 1998 champion hoping to notch up his 50th match in the championships since his debut in 1987 - could take Beachill through to face long-time rival Alex Gough, the fifth-seeded Welshman who boasts a British O35 Open crown. 

Beachill's scheduled semi-final opponent is fourth-seeded Londoner Adrian Grant, also an England team-mate and also based in Yorkshire.

In addition to Nick Taylor, local interest in the men's event will be provided by 13th seed Andrew Whipp and unseeded Peter Billson.  Whipp, a 26-year-old from Stockport, is looking to make his first appearance in the last sixteen after facing a qualifier in the first round - while Manchester-based Billson, 27, lines up against Kent's 16th seed Ben Ford.

A familiar name will return to National Championship action for the first time since reaching the quarter-finals two years ago.  Joey Barrington, son of 1980 champion Jonah Barrington, is the seventh seed.  The 28-year-old world No27 from Glastonbury in Somerset faces a qualifier in the opening round.

Men's 1st round draw:
[1] James Willstrop (Yorks) v Nick Taylor (Lancs)
[16] Ben Ford (Kent) v Peter Billson (Lancs)
[6] Jonathan Kemp (Shropshire) v Chris Simpson (Hants)
[14] Tim Vail (Sussex) v Tom Richards (Surrey)
[3] Peter Barker (Essex) v Qualifier
[15] Alex Stait (Glos) v Qualifier
[8] Alister Walker (Glos) v Hadrian Stiff (Devon)
[13] Andrew Whipp (Cheshire) v Qualifier
[9] Daryl Selby (Essex) v Stephen Meads (Berks)
[7] Joey Barrington (Somerset) v Qualifier
[12] Stacey Ross (Surrey) v Jonathan Harford (Glos)
[4] Adrian Grant (Kent) v Qualifier
[11] Chris Ryder (Herts) v Qualifier
[5] Alex Gough (Wales) v John Rooney (Ireland)
[10] Simon Parke (Yorks) v Qualifier
[2] Lee Beachill (Yorks) v Qualifier

For ticket details, visit the official website: www.nationalsquashchamps.co.uk