Lee Bullen has urged his patched up stars to make one more push and stay top for Christmas.
Injury-hit Ayr’s squad depth is being tested to the full as the festive period enters top gear.
Form horses Dundee visit Somerset this Friday night with Bullen light on defensive players.
United are also sweating on the fitness of midfield linchpin Ben Dempsey, who limped off in the 3-2 defeat at Partick on Saturday.
But with crocked centre halves Frankie Musonda and Alex Kirk nearing a return, Bullen is hoping Ayr can ride the storm.
He told the Ayrshire Post: “It’s a case of rolling with the punches at the minute.
“We always knew this was going to be a tricky period and being short of a few makes it that bit more testing.
"But we are top of the league and have a chance to go into Christmas staying that way.
“That is a tremendous incentive.”
Friday night could come just too soon for Musonda, while Kirk is back in training with Arsenal and being aimed at an early January return.
Jordan Houston and Daire O’Connor remain out with hamstring strains, but Jayden Mitchell-Lawson was back in training this week.
Dundee are unbeaten in eight league games and will bid to replace the Honest Men at the top of the Christmas tree.
Bullen said: “Gary Bowyer has got them flying of late and they’re coming here in very good heart.
“I think whichever team finishes above Dundee will win the league, so we know this is a big test awaiting us.
"But we’ll be up for it and it’s a great game to finish off before Christmas.
“There will be a good atmosphere inside Somerset on Friday night and it’s one to really look forward to.”
•Ayr’s under 18s earned Ayrshire derby bragging rights with a 2-0 win over Killie at Rugby Park on Friday night.
Lucas McRoberts and Max Guthrie scored first half goals before McRoberts saw straight red shortly before the interval.
But United were able to see it out, with Killie also reduced to ten men in the second half.
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