Injury-plagued Scotland side hope the hot atmosphere at their Hampden Park can help them record a valuable victory at the start of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers, while Serbia search for their first victory under new boss Sinisa Mihajlovic.

With seven straight unsuccessful qualifying campaigns behind them and some very good sides in their 2014 World Cup qualifying group, the Tartan Army could be forgiven for not feeling optimistic at the moment, but Craig Levein’s men have decided to focus on the positives instead.

Having come close to making it to Euro 2012 and having produced some decent showings in friendly games, the Scots are full of confidence at the moment, even if Ladbrokes pay as much as 2.75 (7/4) on home win.

The hosts go into this game on the back of a 3-1 friendly victory over Australia and they are hoping they can beat Serbia as well.

That could prove to be a difficult task now that Scott Brown, Darren Fletcher, Charlie Mulgrew, Danny Fox, Russel Martin, Phil Bardsley and Steven Whittaker are all sidelined through injury.

The good news is that Allan McGregor has recovered from a groin injury, while Christophe Berra is also back after attending the birth of his child.

Probable starting line-up (4-3-2-1): McGregor – Hutton, Caldwell, Berra, Dixon – Morrison, Webster, Adam – Maloney, Snodgrass – Miller.

Serbian national team have embarked on a new era following the unsuccessful Euro 2012 qualifying campaign and international retirement of Nemanja Vidic and Dejan Stankovic.

New boss Sinisa Mihajlovic has decided to rejuvenate the squad, leaving senior players Milos Krasic, Nikola Zigic and Marko Pantelic out of the side, and the first sides have been positive.

Nobody was too surprised by friendly defeats to Spain, France and Sweden, but the Eagles did show a lot of promise in those games, although they were well below par in the goalless draw with Republic of Ireland.

Taking everything into account, it looks as though Mihajlovic is on the right track, but he will need some more time to get the team playing the way he wants them to.

With Serbia back line looking really good at the moment and the absence of a recognized striker there for everyone to see, odds of 1.62 (8/13) offered at Stan James on under 2.5 goals do look tempting.

Sinisa Mihajlovic has no injury worries before the clash at Hampden Park, although Miralem Sulejmani and Marko Scepovic will not be in contention.

Probable starting line-up (3-4-2-1): Stojkovic – Ivanovic, Subotic, Nastasic – Basta, Ignjovski, Matic, Kolarov – Ninkovic, Tosic – Lekic.