TWO of Ayrshire's most established rugby clubs are set to face off for a place in this season's Scottish Cup final. 

Ayr and Marr set up the mouth-watering prospect of a local derby for a place in the Murrayfield showcase after negotiating their quarter-final ties at the weekend.

The two local rivals went into their last eight matches knowing the prospect of a semi-final derby was on the table after the draw was made two days earlier - and they more than held up their two ends of the bargain with two outstanding displays.

Ayr, currently second in National League One and looking virtually certain to miss out to Kelso in the fight for top spot, were underdogs in their tie against Premiership Selkirk - but the Millbrae men made light work of the division's gap between the sides, pulling off a resounding 49-13 win.

Despite trailing in the early stages, Ayr pulled ahead before the end of the first half - and scored a remarkable five second half tries to ease into the last four.

Marr, meanwhile, faced off against Currie Chieftains - who finished one place above them in the Premiership, and who were beaten by Hawick in the play-off final last month.

The Malleny men pulled 10 points ahead in the first 15 minutes but a superb spell for the Fullarton side in the closing stages of the half saw them establish a 17-10 lead at the interval.

A try and a penalty saw Marr extend that lead to 27-10 in the first 10 minutes of the second half, and resolute defending saw the Troon team see out the match in relative comfort to secure their place in the last four.

The two local rivals will now face each other in the semi-final at Millbrae on April 15, with either Hawick or Glasgow Hawks awaiting the winner in the final.