Hibs: Final Answer

Garry Westwater, Monifieth: "Hibs should be too strong for Ayr - it is full-time versus part-time after all, however Ayr have a confidence about them that Hibs don't. I think Calderwood has to start Daryl Duffy with Riordan and Zemmama supporting him from a five-man midfield. Hibs need to be up for the game or it will all go pear-shaped like Ross County last season. I fear for us."

Neil Boyle, Dunfermline: "We will be very lucky to get anything against Ayr. It will be a battle and these players seem unable to do that at the moment. It is more than likely we will get knocked out by a late goal after another insipid display."

Fred Legget, Sydney: "Any SPL team facing Ayr should be too strong for them but, as we have witnessed throughout this turgid season, strength is not something we currently possess, physically nor, it seems, mentally. The 3-0 victory over Rangers at Ibrox seems even more of a mystery as each week of dreadful results continues, and if Ayr do manage to cause what everybody else but us Hibs supporters will consider to be an upset, then I think many won't be back at Easter Road for the remainder of the season. So it's make or break time, but having followed the club for 50-odd years, it just wouldn't be Hibs' style to put us out of our misery quickly, so I'm backing them to take us through to the next round, so we can agonise just a little bit longer."

Bryan Phillips, Marchmont: "On paper it shouldn't be a contest. But we've shown so many times in the past in the Scottish Cup that the form book really goes out the window as far as we're concerned in this competition. Much will turn on who scores first I think. On current form - and away from home - I can't see this Hibs team being able to turn it round if they go a goal behind."

Paul Prior, Leith: "I'm relatively confident. I don't think the comparison with the Ross County game last year really stacks up as Ross County were one of the top teams in Division One at the time, whereas Ayr are a full league below that. Mind you, I remember the last time we played Ayr in a cup competition all too well - the defeat in the League Cup semi-final in 2002, but hopefully we can put on a better performance here."

Joe Simpson, Fernieside: "This is make or break for our season and if we don't get a win I can see attendances dropping drastically for the rest of the season. Whether it is a higher bonus or whatever that is needed to motivate the players for this one, we need to do it to make sure we go through. With Hearts and one half of the Old Firm guaranteed to be out of the picture by the quarter-finals, we need to realise that this is a great opportunity to reach the latter stages of the competition. I just hope this group of players share the desire of the supporters to win this cup. I'll go for 1-0 to Hibs."