Stevie Rankin quit Possilpark for Irvine during the close season - and is set to lead Medda into the Scottish Cup semi-final just eight months later.

The Ayrshire giants face Hurlford United this afternoon in the first leg at Meadow Park, although Rankin warned it will be anything but a breeze.

But the former Ashfield gaffer insisted he is loving life in his new job.

He said: "Everyone at the club is looking forward to both ties immensely. Hurlford are one of the better teams in our league so it will be tough.

"We have played them three times this season and it has been close. It's honours even with one win each and a draw.

"This is the furthest I have ever been in the Scottish, as a player, coach or manager, so it's something I intend to enjoy, even though I'll be down there on the touchline kicking every ball."

Medda have cleared some tough hurdles to reach the last four, including wins over sides such as Petershill, Clydebank and Bo'ness, but Rankin pointed to two other ties that almost caught his side out.

He said: "Fauldhouse United and Penicuik came down to our place and gave us a game. I was impressed by both, but particularly Penicuik, they were an excellent side.

"Teams raise their game against Medda, there is no doubt about it, because we are a big scalp to many, but that's just the way it is."

Rankin and his trusted lieutenant, Murdy McKinnon, have been busy running the rule over today's opponents, and vital information will be passed over to the players prior to kick-off.

The two men were team- mates at Ashfield a couple of decades ago and have enjoyed an excellent manager-coach relationship for the past eight years now.

Rankin said: "We don't always agree on things, but I'm sure that's healthy for a management team. Murdy works the players hard at training, but they love the way he mixes it all up. He likes to keep it fresh, which ensures training is never boring.

"He has all his coaching badges and is a brilliant right-hand man. If I miss anything during a game you can bet your bottom dollar that Murdy has picked it up. He is one of the new breed of coaches, with new methods.

"He played in the middle of the park for Ashfield but picked up a serious injury and was forced to give up the game prematurely. It was then that he decided to throw himself into the coaching side of things and has taken to it like a fish in water."

The Medda boss added: "We would dearly love to reach the final, as would Hurlford, but there is absolutely no pressure on me at Meadow Park. The board and fans have been very supportive and are with me all the way.

"But I must give enormous credit to the people who run the club because they took a chance on a manager who had just been relegated with Ashfield and gave me their full backing. That takes guts, and I hope I've repaid them with some decent performances this season.