Scotland begin preparations for the start of their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign in September with a friendly double-header this week.
Steve Clarke's side face Iceland at Hampden Park on Friday night before travelling to Liechenstein on Monday for their final warm-up match ahead of the bid to reach the tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico next year.
The Scots are looking to bounce back from a sour end to their Nations League campaign back in March when they succumbed to a 3-1 aggregate defeat to Greece in their League A/B play-off with a 3-0 loss in the second leg at Hampden coming as a major disappointment following the 1-0 away victory in the first leg four days earlier.
The setback - which ended a run a three successive victories - meant Scotland lost their place in the top tier of the Nations League as they were relegated back to League B after one campaign in League A.
Scotland will now look to restore some positivity against two opponents they will be expected to beat. Iceland have tumbled down the Fifa rankings in recent years after the highs of reaching the quarter-finals of Euro 2016 and qualifying for their first World Cup in 2020.
Now down at 74th, they finished third in their Nations League B section behind Wales and Turkey, but in front of Montenegro, who they registered their two wins against. Liechtenstein, meanwhile, are ranked 205th in the world, and lost twice to San Marino in their Nations League D campaign, one of only five teams below them in the rankings.
Clarke has a decision to make over his team selection and tactics for both matches. He has named seven uncapped players in his squad but is without regulars Craig Gordon, Kenny McLean, Ryan Christie and Lyndon Dykes through injury.
A fully fit Kieran Tierney also resurfaces an old dilemma for Clarke over how to incorporate both the returning Celtic left-back and Liverpool’s Andy Robertson in the same starting line-up with a possible return to a back three, or an experimental option at his disposal.
Here is how we predict Clarke could line up against Iceland at Hampden on Friday...
5. Andy Robertson - LB
Kieran Tierney's return to fitness has brought back an old dilemma for Steve Clarke at left-back, but his national team captain, fresh off the back of an EPL title winning season with Liverpool, is unlikely to be displaced with an 83rd cap in the offing. | SNS Group
6. Billy Gilmour - CM
The Napoli midfielder is sure to be on a high after playing his part in a historic Serie A title win last month. Likely to be deployed at the base of the Scotland midfield to move onto 39 caps. | SNS Group
7. Lewis Ferguson - CM
It is bizarre that the Bologna captain has yet to establish himself as a regular Scotland starter given his performances in Italy over the past few years. Leading his side to Coppa Italia glory last month only underlined why he should be a first-pick in Steve Clarke's midfield and the injury to Kenny McLean should see him start alongside fellow Serie A star Gilmour in the middle of the park against Iceland. | SNS Group
8. John McGinn - AMR
The Aston Villa captain has had another stellar season at club level with four goals and six assists in 49 appearances to help his side reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League and secure European football again next season with a sixth place finish in the Premier League. A huge player for Scotland, this will be his 76th cap. | SNS Group