Dalziel, a Coca-Cola Cup winner with Raith Rovers as a player, has already guided Ayr into next month's CIS Cup semi-final against Hibs at Hampden.

He also took the First Division side to the Scottish Cup semi-finals two years ago, albeit suffering a 7-0 rout to Rangers at the National Stadium.

And with Ayr a long way behind promotion rivals Partick and Airdrie, the cup competitions have once more provided salvation at Somerset Park.

'It's always nice to be in the cups, but this is going to be a massive task for us,' said Dalziel, ahead of today's visit of SPL side Dunfermline.

'Dunfermline are one of the form teams of the moment and, when they went 2-0 up against Rangers, they looked quite comfortable, although they lost their edge in the second half.

'We're the underdogs and they will be expected to get through - but that helps us. We have done well in the Cup and have taken quite a few scalps over the years against teams like Motherwell, Kilmarnock and Dundee.

'We will have to be at our best against them. But these are the kind of games that we have responded to.

'We have done well in both cup competitions, although our form in the league has been more disappointing. We seem to rise to the occasion.'

Ayr captain John Hughes faces a late fitness test, although opposite number Ian Ferguson will be recalled after being rested against Rangers.