And, with Mihael Kovacevic sidelined because of a broken nose, it leaves the Tangerines with just Sean Dillon available for the specialist position.

More comfortable on the right, he will move to the other flank on Wednesday and, as things stand right now, midfielder Greg Cameron will be used as emergency cover as well.

The problem could be eased if Keith Watson can be recalled from his loan at East Fife. That possibility was being examined today and clarification regarding loan rules being sought.

The gaffer, though, was not keen to use the situation as an excuse-in-waiting for any dropping of recent high standards and insisted he will be looking for another solid performance on Wednesday.

“There is no point in saying we have a strong squad and then starting to bleat about injuries when they come along,” he said.

“This kind of thing happens. It’s up to someone to come in and step up to the plate on Wednesday and for as long as we are without Dixon.”

The left-back’s injury is a recurrence of the problem he suffered at Hibs at the end of October. He recovered more quickly than expected then and the hope is he’ll do the same this time.

“We’ll need to let his knee settle down over the next few days before we get a more accurate picture, but, right now, we are looking at him definitely being out for the next couple of weeks.

“Mihael got his nose done on Friday and it’s fine, but it also needs left for a couple of weeks before he can play again.”

This mini defensive crisis, however, will not be allowed to divert focus from extending an unbeaten run that’s now extended to seven games.

And taking time to reflect on the weekend win, Houstie never saw it ending in Perth.

“I was delighted with the boys and felt comfortable throughout the game. I heard talk of a foul at our goal, but, having watched the video, didn’t see anything in it.

“Likewise, St Johnstone might have had a penalty in the first half, but in the build up to that incident Craig Conway was fouled, so it should have been a free-kick to us.

“These things happen in football and I don’t think it takes away from the fact we thoroughly deserve to be in the hat for the last eight of the cup.”

“I felt we controlled the game, but it does worry me that we have started giving away bad goals again,” he said.

“Ayr did not have to work for their goal on Saturday and that’s been the case with most of the goals we’ve lost in the past few weeks.

“It was a problem early in the season and, now it’s back, it is something we will be working on to correct.”

With emergency loans still an option, there remains the possibility of a new face being added to the defence.

The next few weeks should see the rearguard boosted by the return to fitness of David Cowan as well as Craig McKeown, who was spared the embarrassment of loan club Stirling Albion’s 9-0 cup hammering at Ross County.

“I did not want him playing up there, because I’m hoping, by the time the quarter-finals come round, he will be challenging for a place here and Cowan could be in the same boat,” added Jocky.

Swift steps, meanwhile, have been taken to make sure their fellow centre-half Gary MacKenzie is OK to face Ayr in the league at Somerset Park on Saturday.

At the end of last week, the SFA’s official suspension list showed MacKenzie still had one game of a two-match league ban for breaking the penalty points barrier still to serve.

Having been challenged on that by club secretary Laura Hayes, the governing body have now confirmed MacKenzie has served his time in the sin bin.

Collin Samuel was another who featured today, but there is no place for Kevin Moon, who is nursing a hamstring injury.