STEVE CLARKE expects Scotland to face a full-strength Czech Republic as he gets set to ring the changes at Hampden tonight.
Scotland were 2-1 winners over the Czechs last month after a Coronavirus outbreak decimated their squad and forced them to field a replacement line-up for the Nations League clash.
Boss Jaroslav Silhavy will not be in the dugout at Hampden after he tested positive for the virus this week but it will be a considerably stronger side that take to the field.
Scotland have beaten Israel on penalties and Slovakia 1-0 during the international break and Clarke will carefully manage his squad for the third outing in quick succession.
He said: “I’m sure there will be [a backlash from the first game]. They’ll come with an almost full strength starting eleven as the team that played against Israel are all available. I would imagine all of them will start again.
“They didn’t have 120 minutes and a penalty shoot out last week. They had a friendly game against Cyprus and some nice preparation.
“So they’ll come at us, they’ll be fresh and strong - they have good quality players - and we expect a tough challenge.
“But, listen, if we want to win the group it’s a game we have to look to take three points from.
“I would think [we will make changes]. We’ve lost John Fleck and Liam Cooper through injury so there will be some changes.
"I have to speak to the medical staff and work out which players are robust enough to start all three games - and the ones that maybe couldn’t do that.
“I’m also quite mindful of the fact that it’s only four weeks until the play-off final next month so if we lose someone with a serious muscle injury then they could be touch and go for that game.
"So, as well as protecting the clubs, we have to think about ourselves as well so, yes, there will be some changes.”
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