The eyes of the world will likely be on Hampden this Wednesday evening as Scotland purpose to take an enormous step nearer to returning to soccer's greatest showpiece.
To make it to subsequent weekend's winner-takes-all World Cup play-off last conflict in Cardiff, Steve Clarke 's males should first see off the problem of Ukraine in Glasgow.
It is set to be yet one more evening of big emotion and drama at Hampden, notably given the guests ongoing battle off the sector with Russia.
They could be understrength and wanting match sharpness, however Ukraine's gamers will likely be significantly fired up as they give the impression of being to ship a much-needed optimistic outcome for his or her supporters.
With the world backing Ukraine, Scotland should be the unhealthy guys to maintain their dream of returning to the World Cup for the primary time since 1998 afloat.
Having received a style for main event soccer ultimately yr's European Championships, the Tartan Military would like to be packing their sunscreen and heading for Qatar this November.
This is what we noticed at their Oriam coaching session this morning.
Prepared for motion
He might need had a nightmare season in membership colors, however Billy Gilmour has all the time introduced his A-game to the social gathering for Scotland.
Fears he might need missed this crunch conflict have been sparked when he missed Norwich's last Premier League sport of the season in opposition to Tottenham Hotspur.
However the former Rangers prospect confirmed he is preventing match and appears more likely to reform Scotland's lately spectacular midfield trio alongside Callum McGregor and John McGinn.
Eyeing up a beginning spot
With Steve Clarke himself admitting that Everton full again Nathan Patterson is more likely to miss out on Wednesday evening, there is a large determination to be made about who fills in on the suitable flank.
Stephen O'Donnell is not as attack-minded as the previous Rangers teenager, however he has been rock strong for his nation in massively necessary video games earlier than.
With Kieran Tierney already dominated out, there will likely be extra of an emphasis on the total backs offering some offensive help although and that would see Anthony Ralston choose up his second cap.
Whereas not as strong defensively, the 23-year-old has loved a shocking season with title-winning Celtic and he might effectively discover himself given the nod.
Hampden heartache behind him
Craig Gordon will likely be hoping his swift return to Hampden this Wednesday evening leaves him with that successful feeling.
The Hearts stopper was on the shedding aspect because the Jambos misplaced their Scottish Cup last conflict with Rangers final weekend.
The evergreen 39-year-old seems to have put that defeat behind him already although, as he seems to be to fill in a profession clean by serving to Scotland return to the World Cup.
He was in very good type all season for Hearts, and though former Scotland hero David Marshall is again within the squad it might be a silly man who wager in opposition to Gordon being between the sticks come kick-off.
Main from the entrance
Ryan Christie strikes us because the type of hard-worker that all the time leads by instance in coaching.
Having taken half in a pre-training camp boot camp with Lyndon Dykes and Jacob Brown to remain totally match, the Bournemouth ahead is hoping he will likely be given a starring position once more for his nation.
The 27-year-old loved an excellent season with the Cherries, serving to them get promoted again as much as the Premier League.
Including a World Cup journey to high flight soccer subsequent season would seal a fairly first rate yr for the previous Celtic star, and he seems to be determined to impress the gaffer and assist make that dream a actuality.
Huge choices to make
Each Scotland fan thinks they understand how their workforce ought to line up on Wednesday evening.
However the one beginning XI that basically issues is the one which Steve Clarke decides to ship onto the Hampden turf to tackle a really harmful opponent.
Whereas Ukraine have suffered the worst build-up conceivable, they are going to be determined to bag a victory for his or her nation and did make all of it the way in which to the quarter-finals on the Euros simply final yr.
Clarke is aware of he has to get his line-up spot on, and far will rely upon how he tries to melt the blow of shedding Kieran Tierney from his settled again line.
John Souttar proved his health in final weekend's Scottish Cup last, and like Tierney likes to step out from the defence and spark assaults.
He might discover himself again for the primary time since notching in opposition to Denmark, whereas up entrance the choice to play Lyndon Dykes or Che Adams - or each - is probably going inflicting Clarke a little bit of a headache.