The infants will be stabilised on NCPAP (Neopuff; Fisher and Paykel, Auckland, New Zealand) in the delivery room and during transport to the NICU. NCPAP or NIPPV will be started within 30 min of birth immediately after randomisation. Both NCPAP and NIPPV will be delivered by a neonatal ventilator (Engström Carestation; GE Healthcare, Madison, USA) via short, binasal Cannula (RAM Cannula; Neotech, Valencia, CA). NCPAP pressure will be set at 5-6 cm H2O, and NIPPV will be set in a non-synchronised mode at 20-30 bpm, with positive end-expiratory pressure of 5-6 cm H2O and peak inspiratory pressure of 15-20 cm H2O. FiO2 will be titrated at 0.21-0.50 to maintain an oxygen saturation level of 90%-95%, as measured via pulse oximeter. Under non-invasive ventilation, the surfactant will be administered as a rescue therapy if the infant required ≥0.40 FiO2 to maintain the target saturation level of 90%-95%.