Everyone at Millbrae has now (hopefully) come down from the ceiling after Saturday's RBS Premiership-winning victory over Currie. It was a wonderful weekend, but attention is turned to the Scottish Cup, with Ayr welcoming Stirling County to Alloway on Saturday for a hotly anticipated quarter-final.
The men in pink and black have a long-running love affair with the Cup, reaching the final three times on the trot and winning twice, and they relish the chance to get into the semi-finals yet again.
"The Cup is held in high regard by Ayr," says assistant coach Peter Laverie, "and we have given ourselves a chance to do something even more special, which is to win the double."
He is justifiably proud of his players' efforts last weekend, but knows that they must be focussed this Saturday against a tough Stirling side.
"Stirling will be confident following their win against Gala but we are not going to give anything away now. It is bound to be a hard game and the players will be reminded of the need to play for eighty minutes and create the all-important go-forward platform we require to succeed."
Laverie adds: "Winner takes all - Cup semi-final and the Bill McLaren Shield."
There are a couple of changes to the team, with prop Nick Cox unfortunately missing out due to a hand injury. Robbie Fergusson and D'arcy Rae return from Scotland under-20s duty, and Colin White moves from the back row to the second row.
Team (subject to change on match day):
15. Grant Anderson, 14. Richard Dalgleish, 13. Robbie Fergusson, 12. Dean Kelbrick, 11. Craig Gossman; 10. Finn Russell, 9. Peter Jericevich; 1. Denford Mutamangira, 2. Stuart Fenwick, 3. D'arcy Rae; 4. Scott Sutherland, 5. Colin White; 6. Graham Fisken, 7. Andrew Dunlop, 8. Calum Forrester (capt).
Replacements:
16. Hayden Wisnewski, 17. Gordon Sykes, 18. Ross Doneghan, 19. Ross Curle/Peter McCallum, 20. Murray McConnell.
Kick-off 3pm!
EH
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