Mark Shankland's longest wait in football ends on Saturday when Auchinleck Talbot take on his former club Ayr United in the William Hill Scottish Cup at Beechwood Park.

There has been much excitement around the fourth-round tie since the draw in November paired one of junior football's most successful clubs with their senior Ayrshire neighbours, who are riding high in the Championship, second only to leaders Ross County.

After weeks of build-up to the match, which is all-ticket and live on television, striker Shankland is ready to take on the club for which he became its youngest-signed debutant when he featured against Brechin in the final league match of the 2010/11 season at just 15 years and 300 days old.

The 23-year-old Press Association Sport: "I can't wait. It has been the longest week leading up to a game.

"Since the draw has been made, folk have been ignored really important league games and focusing on this game, which you understand given how big a game it is.

"We have managed to win them all but everyone you met in the street was always asking questions about it and talking about it so I can't wait until Saturday.

"A game like this will probably never happen again at Auchinleck, an all-ticket game. Everyone is buzzing for it."

It has been well-documented that when Shankland departed from Ayr at the end of 2013/14 season the Somerset Park club was able to hold on to his registration.

He dropped down to play as an amateur for the West of Scotland Super League Premier Division side and now he is looking forward to a memorable afternoon.

He said: "It is obviously a big game for me personally, one of my biggest, but also probably one of the biggest for a few of our players.

"I can't wait. I couldn't believe the way the draw worked out and hopefully I can get the chance to show what I can do.

"We have played Wick, Fraserburgh and Cove Rangers, and  they were favourites in all the games.

"We have exceeded expectations already but you never know what can happen with a bit of luck on the day.

"But it will be difficult against a full-time side."