HAMPDEN could host the biggest Scotland game in a generation on Tuesday.
But Steve Clarke won’t be giving Denmark a single thought right now.
It’s all about Greece for the Scotland boss — and that must be the case for his players too.
Forget the Danes and the potential for a winner- takes-all sold-out Hampden showdown.
That game will be totally irrelevant if Scotland don’t do the business in Piraeus.
Can you imagine how big an anti-climax Tuesday will be if we lose in Greece?
Clarke has built a really good squad over the past six years and led the nation to successive Euros finals.
Let’s be realistic, though. We aren’t at a level where we can start to think a game ahead.
Any notion that tomorrow’s team will be picked with one eye on Denmark is wide of the mark.
Clarke will choose the best XI to get a result in Greece, THEN think about Tuesday.
I know him well from our time together at Kilmarnock and that’s how he operates.
Clarke will never get ahead of himself, and that has to be the attitude from everyone.
Scotland have a great shot at reaching the World Cup, but you have to deal with the here and now. Greece have quality players and will be reeling at their Hampden defeat last month.
They outplayed Scotland for long periods, but were somehow on the receiving end of that 3-1 defeat.
In fact, there’s an argument that Greece have dominated the last three meetings with Scotland, yet only won one.
Yes, they are out of the World Cup qualifying reckoning — but nobody should underestimate them.
They will have a point to prove in front of their home fans and will expect a win.
Scotland are in for a tough night and trust me, Clarke will pick his strongest side.
He’ll also be aiming for a win, not a draw.
Forget the fact that a point would do. It’s not in his make-up to send Scotland out to play for a point.
They won’t be gung-ho and at times they will probably be cautious, but Clarke will target the win.
The national boss has spoken about the difficulties of dealing with this type of Saturday-Tuesday schedule in the past.
But these are defining games in the careers of these Scotland players, and they will all need to power through both of them.
It will be tough for them but all they need to do is think of the reward on offer — a World Cup finals spot. This Scotland team normally turns up at crucial moments in the qualifiers, though, and they don’t get bigger than this.
For me, ten players are almost guaranteed to be in the starting line-up against Greece.
Craig Gordon, despite his lack of game-time, will probably win his 82nd cap.
The back four will be Aaron Hickey, John Souttar, Grant Hanley and Andy Robertson.
With no Billy Gilmour, then Ryan Christie, Lewis Ferguson, John McGinn and Scott McTominay have to play.
Up front, Che Adams is in pole position to start in the lone striker role Clarke trusts him with.
It leaves one major decision for the manager — does he play Ben Gannon-Doak or Kenny McLean?
The Scotland boss is a huge admirer of the Norwich City man, and you can be certain he will play some role at some point in Greece.
With Christie capable of playing off a wing, McLean will come into contention to start beside Ferguson at the base of the midfield.
But Gannon-Doak offers a different dimension in attack and I believe he has to play.
The Bournemouth winger has pace, he has a trick and he can get Scotland up the pitch.
Gannon-Doak will ask questions of the Greeks defensively, and it’s important that the team are on the front foot.
As for the goalkeeping position, there has been a fierce debate over who should start in the nets.
Of the three, Falkirk goalie Scott Bain is the only one playing regular football.
But Rangers keeper Liam Kelly has been in and around the squad for a while now, while big Craigie has all the experience in the world.
It’s not an easy decision for Clarke, but I expect Gordon to get the nod in Greece.
The Scotland boss is never swayed by public opinion. He is always his own man in that respect.
But if he’s fully fit and ready, everyone agrees that Gordon is still the No 1 keeper he has in the squad.
If Clarke picked Bain or Kelly and it went wrong, there would be serious questions over why he overlooked a keeper with 81 caps.
I expect Gordon to play against Greece, and if he keeps a clean sheet it could be the biggest one of his Scotland career.
But whether it’s one point or three, all that matters is that the World Cup dream is alive come 10pm tonight.
Achieve that first target and Clarke and his players will be on the brink of something special.
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