The two home nations enjoyed a very good start to the Euro 2016 qualifiers and are now set to square off at Hampden Park four days before resuming their respective campaigns.

Scotland finished the 2014 World Cup campaign in style, defeating FYR Macedonia and Croatia in their final two fixtures, before they impressed in the build up to the Euro 2016 qualifiers.

Gordon Strachan’s charges beat Norway and Poland away while sharing spoils with USA and Nigeria, and they went into the opening match against Germany high on spirits.

Scotland proved their worth by matching the World Cup holders for large periods of the game, but eventually had to settle for a narrow defeat.

The team, nonetheless, continued with strong performances, taking seven points from next three qualifiers, thus seriously improving their qualifying hopes.

Scotland will now attempt to make amends for the friendly loss to England and they can be backed at 1.80 (4/5) to see off Northern Ireland.

With Fulham striker Ross McCormack the only unavailable player at the moment, Gordon Strachan can be tipped to field a very strong side.

Probable starting line-up (4-2-3-1): Marshall – Hutton, Martin, Berra, Robertson – Brown, Fletcher – Maloney, Naismith, Anya – Fletcher.

Northern Ireland hadn’t come even close to qualifying for a major tournament since the Euro 2008 campaign, but Michael O’Neill’s men impressed everyone with the strong start to the current campaign.

The minnows defeated Hungary, Faroe Islands and Greece in their first three matches, before they succumbed to a 2-0 loss in Romania.

Nevertheless, Northern Ireland now sit in second place, just one point behind the Eastern European side and they have a realistic chance of reaching the tournament finals.

Everybody in the national team is aware the team need to continue performing at a very high level and no doubt the Scotland clash will serve as a very good test.

Northern Ireland are priced at 5.75 (19/4) to emerge victorious at Hampden Park, although defeating the in-form Scots is easier said than done.

Lee Hodgson has been called to replace Paul Patton, while Sammy Clingan and Shane Ferguson have also been ruled out through injury.

Probable starting line-up (4-3-2-1): Carroll – McLaughlin, McNair, J. Evans, McGivern – McGinn, Baird, Brunt – Norwood, Davis – K. Lafferty.