Kell Brook sees Saturday's War of the Roses clash with Matthew Hatton as a "dress rehearsal" for his long-awaited shot at a world title.

The unbeaten Sheffield fighter takes on Manchester veteran Hatton in an intriguing welterweight battle at the Steel City's Motorpoint Arena.

Brook admits he is taking a risk by facing such a dangerous opponent when he is so close to a world title opportunity, having revealed he took a fight with Hatton rather than push on with negotiations for a shot at one of the major belts.

However, the 25-year-old insists it is a gamble worth taking should he deliver on his promise to "smash" Hatton and make a statement against a fighter respected across the world.

Brook - who has attracted a crowd of nearly 10,000 to his hometown venue - said: "There's pressure on me now because of all the tickets I've sold and the profile of the fight. But I thrive on that pressure. It's going to be a proper fight that lives up to the hype and the expectation levels.

"They've called it War of the Roses and believe you me, we're going to get in there and have one hell of a fight.

"When all's said and done you're going to see an explosive fight.

"It's a risk because we didn't need to take this fight but I wanted it. It's captured the public's imagination, it's been on the horizon for years and we've finally got it on."

Brook (26-0, 18KOs) added: "We've sold around 10,000 tickets for this and you start wondering how much demand there would be to see a world title fight in Sheffield.

"That's the plan, to get the world title fight and pack it out again, big-time. I can't wait. I can't wait to hear the fans chanting my name on Saturday night. I'll absorb it all and get in there and really turn it on.

"This is like a dress rehearsal for a world title fight. It's a taste of what a world title fight will be like.

"Matthew boxed at world level last year when he lost to (WBC light-middleweight champion) Saul Alvarez; I'm ranked in the top 10 of the governing bodies so this puts me in good stead for that."

Brook will start as the heavy favourite with bookmakers pricing Hatton as generously as 15/2.

Hatton (42-5-2, 16KOs) has concealed any irritation at being regarded as such a glaring underdog.