And there he meets world champion Neil Robertson, who earlier in the day left three-time world champion Mark Selby behind in a 6-5 thriller.
Robertson won the 2010 World Cup and has 18 titles in the rankings – but Trump reckons only two modern greats can lower his colors when he’s in tip top shape.
“In my opinion there are two people who could beat me at my best,” said the 2019 world champion.
“And that’s Ronnie O’Sullivan and John Higgins.
“I love John, but I hope he doesn’t play better than that! I honestly think – I’ve played both, I’ve played John and played great before and still lost in decisions.
“I played against Ronnie and played well and lost. I usually win comfortably against all other players. For me, these two are at best leagues above any other in the world.
“John regained his shape and sometimes he looked back on his best there and I feared the worst.
“There’s not much you can do when John is at his best, and you can do your best and still lose.
“John is so good under pressure that anything can happen – he’s a dangerous, dangerous player.
“It was a tough game, but I’m really looking forward to another final. It’s a good start to the season for me with a semi-final and now another final.”
Trump, who was stunned by world number 36 Martin Gould in the last four games at the European Masters, was outdone by Higgins at the Marshall Arena but showed his class was fighting over the line.
Both players traded more than fifty breaks a century ago, and either side of the interval between sessions put Higgins 3-2 ahead.
The 17-time ranking event winner Trump struck back in the sixth frame, only Higgins scored a majestic 107 to regain the advantage.
The Scot missed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make it 5-3, however, when Trump capitalized on two frames of scrappier to get him to the top of a 27th final.
And he crossed the finish line in style as he held the nerve of hitting a brave 73 and booking a date with the Thunder from Down Under.
The 31-year-old Trump admits that he was “played out” by Higgins but knows that a third home nation title is due when he shows up on Sunday.
“I felt like I was really being outplayed – his long potting had big problems with me and I stole all the shabby frames and got stuck there,” he added.
“If I can do my best, and if I can be my best when I played John in the World Finals, if I can play like that, I will definitely get the result.
“But you can’t always do your best and for me it’s this backup game and hopefully my B-game and C-game, like Mark Selby has been doing for the past five or ten years, are good enough now, to keep up with other players at their best. “
