Rory Loy, the Dunfermline Athletic striker, could be forgiven for having mixed emotions should the first division side cause an upset by beating Falkirk in the Homecoming Scottish Cup semi-final on Sunday, writes Martin McMillan.

The 21 year-old is on-loan from Rangers and, under the terms of his deal, will be forced to sit out the final should his parent club see off St Mirren in this weekend's other semi.

Loy admits it is far from an ideal situation but insists the only thought in his mind will be securing the Fife club's safe passage to the Hampden showpiece on May 30.

For the young forward it would be a heartbreaking scenario, one that Jim O'Brien also endured in 2007 when the winger, then on loan at Dunfermline from Celtic, was ruled out of facing his employers in the final. Yesterday, he was as philosophical as he could be about his lot.

"If Rangers get to the final as well as Dunfermline, I won't be able to play. I've had that confirmed," he said.

"It's a tricky situation, but I have to live with it and just get on with it. If we play Rangers, why would they want to do anything to stop them winning the cup?

"I hope Dunfermline win this weekend and I'll let the other semi take care of itself.

"I might be cheering on both my teams in the final, you never know. But a lot of people will be happy if I can help Dunfermline reach the final and that is my only thought. Personally, I would want to play in a final, but that's football."

Loy's stay at East End Park has not been without its difficulties. The Scotland Under-21 internationalist has scored just two goals in 19 appearances - against Airdrie United and Partick Thistle - since his arrival in Fife back in December. His tribulations have reflected a deeper malaise at the club, where Jim McIntyre's side have gone from promotion challengers to relegation battlers in the space of six weeks.

Nevertheless, Loy is confident Dunfermline can defeat Sunday's opponents after securing their first division status with a 3-1 win over Ross County at the weekend and given the nature of their quarter-final victory over Aberdeen.

"We definitely fancy our chances," he said. "We beat Aberdeen in the quarters and I don't think we fear anyone. I hope to be involved, I'll see what the manager does. I feel I've been doing well in training and when I've come on, so I'm hoping I can get a chance. I've played Falkirk at every level apart from first team and they're always the same.

"They pass the ball well, keep it and tire the opposition out. It'll be tough on a big pitch like Hampden, but we're capable of passing the ball around, too."