Stephen Lee's manager has admitted that the former world number five is aiming to play in this year's world championships.

Lee has been suspended from snooker since October as an investigation takes place into alleged match-fixing.

The 38-year-old has submitted his entry into next month's tournament but to have any chance of playing, he will need to clear his name by the end of March.

"We're still waiting for a hearing date. Depending on that, hopefully he'll be in [the world championships]," Lee's manager Adam Quigley told the PA.

"They're trying to thrash it out. The whole saga has gone on for six or seven months so far, which isn't ideal. Stephen has been very positive, and obviously he insists he's done nothing wrong.

"He's still practising and doing the odd exhibition."

The world championships begin on April 20 at the Crucible theatre in Sheffield.