Speaking to Sky Sports, Scotland manager Gordon Strachan: “They’re well balanced and know how important this game is. Results in Europe last night showed every game is hard. We have to be patient, but not playing too slowly. We don’t want a pedestrian pace.

“I did think about three or four changes that I could have made but to make it easy on the turnover I thought it was best to go with the same team again.

“Some of the guys on the bench can consider themselves unlucky.”

As we've mentioned, Robert Snodgrass and Ally McCoist have scored more than once in a match against Malta.

Two others have done it for Scotland. Can you name them?

The search for goals brings us nicely to the opening game of the campaign; a 5-1 victory in Malta on this day last year.

Robert Snodgrass scored a hat-trick at the Ta'Qali National Stadium but the scoreline was rather flattering since it included a cross that fortunately flew into the back of the net and a ludicrous penalty and red card.

That was the fifth meeting between the nations and the good news is Scotland have a 100% record, averaging three goals per game.

Image source, SNS

Scotland's goal difference took a real dunt following back-to-back 3-0 defeats away to England and Slovakia last year.

The talk is all about getting three points this evening by any means necessary but a big win would be just the tonic and, you never know, seven points from the three remaining matches could be enough if the goal gap on Slovakia is overcome significantly over the next two matches.

The Slovaks are at home to Malta on the final day of fixtures, so that's a high-risk scenario, but every edge we can get helps.

Tonight will be Malta's first visit to Hampden.

The country's only previous senior international away to the Scots was played at Ibrox in February 1993 during a redevelopment of the national stadium.

That night Ally McCoist's double and a Pat Nevin goal gave Scotland a comfortable 3-0 qualifying win under Andy Roxburgh but the manager would leave the job later that year after his side failed to qualify for the 1994 World Cup in USA.

Image source, SNS

Awkward maybe, but anything other than a home win would rank as a huge shock.

Malta are without a point in the group; they have scored two goals and they've conceded 19.

They sit 190th on the Fifa rankings, while Scotland are 58th.

Most of the squad are home-based, with star man and skipper Andre Schembri, currently with Apollon Limassol, one of the few exceptions.

There are a couple of players in England; Sam Magri of Ebbsfleet United and Luton Town's Luke Gambin.

Pietro Ghedin is in his second spell as Malta manager and the 64-year-old Italian knows a thing or two about defensive organisation.

Malta kept England out for 53 minutes on Friday, before shipping three very late goals. At Wembley, they went down 2-0, which is better than Scotland managed.

In June, Malta earned a 1-0 friendly win against Ukraine, so there is certainly no room for complacency.

Image source, SNS

Scott Brown, Leigh Griffiths, James McArthur, Charlie Mulgrew and Grant Hanley are all a booking away from a one-game ban in this campaign.

The next game is at home to Slovakia and Scotland need all of their best players available for that one.

Image source, SNS

Steven Thompson
Former Scotland striker on BBC Sportsound

Come to think of it, Scotland fans were cheering England on in the final group game at Euro 96.

England won comfortably that evening but a late Patrick Kluivert consolation goal for the Netherlands eliminated Scotland from the tournament.

Excuse me?!

It's true, the Tartan Army will be rooting for the Three Lions for maybe the first time ever.

Since Scotland are playing catch up after a ropey start to qualifying, we need a turn from our good chums across the border.

If Slovakia make it six qualifying wins in a row at Wembley this evening, then our hopes of finishing as runners-up effectively go up in smoke. A draw keeps us in the hunt but definitely needing maximum points in the remaining fixtures.

The good news is that England's unbeaten record in home qualifiers goes all the way back to November 2007.

Surely Gareth Southgate's lads will remember we gifted them a late, late equaliser at Hampden in June and repay the favour...

Image source, Rex Features

Andy Robertson and Leigh Griffiths take in the surroundings before kick-off at Hampden.

The pair had a big say in proceedings on Friday with Griffiths setting up the first and third goals against Lithuania and Robertson scoring that wonderful second.

It's overcast and wet in Glasgow, which should favour the hosts.

Image source, SNS

Some pre-match Twitter talk...

Gordon Russell Herd: OK Scotland, no messing around, get the ball in the net and get the win.

Ross William Gibson: Don't worry Scotland, we will do you a favour tonight.

Big Chief Swifthalf: Away at Slovenia will be the end of us unfortunately.

Elchappy: When was last time Scotland won 2 games in a row without conceding and with same team?

Can anyone out there answer Elchappy's question?

Can someone called Ross William Gibson really be English? You must be eligible for a call up...

Scotland: Gordon, Tierney, Berra, Mulgrew, Robertson, Brown, Forrest, Armstrong, McArthur, Phillips, Griffiths

Substitutes: Archer, McGregor, Anya, Hanley, R. Martin, Fraser, McGinn, Morrison, Ritchie, Snodgrass, C. Martin, Naismith

Malta: Hogg, Magri, S Borg, Agius, R. Fenech, Schembri, Z Muscat, Kristensen, Zerafa, Effiong, Pisani

Substitutes: Bonello, A Muscat, Failla, P Fenech, Mifsud, Gambin, Farrugia, C Borg, Johnson

Scotland haven't always been at their best at home against the smaller nations, but captain Scott Brown has no worries on that front.

"We know what we've done in the past, we've beat the good teams and when everyone expects us to win a game at home as favourites, we've kind of struggled," said the Celtic skipper at yesterday's media conference.

"It's a different team and with the way we play, we have the high press and great fitness levels throughout the squad.

"We have a very good squad, you look at the bench and there are players who can come on and change games, can score goals, create chances and hold the ball up for us as well.

"It's about patience and creating chances. Here's hoping the fans get behind us."

Willie Miller
Former Scotland defender on BBC Sportsound

I hope not, the weather in Glasgow is abysmal.

Malta's Ryan Fenech was making all the right noises during yesterday's media conference.

"Hampden is full of history and it will be an honour to play there, but we are not here on holiday," said the Balzan midfielder.

"We know Scotland are tough to beat, they are physically very good. We expect a very tough match but our job as players is to give our all and try to get something out of the match."

Scotland fans will be hoping for another comfortable win this evening.

However, the Tartan Army have witnessed just one home win so far in this World Cup qualifying group - a late 1-0 victory against Slovenia in March.

Lithuania and England both left Hampden with a point and Slovakia are still to come to Glasgow next month.

Image source, SNS

The Scotland camp should be full of confidence after that excellent win in Lithuania.

Stuart Armstrong, Andy Robertson and James McArthur we on target in Vilnius and the margin of victory could have been greater.

That made it seven points from a possible nine after a home win against Slovenia and that memorable 2-2 with England at Hampden.

"We have dragged ourselves out a bad place," said manager Gordon Strachan yesterday.

"We could only have done that if we believed in each other and enjoyed working with each other."

Image source, SNS

Scotland starting XI: Gordon, Tierney, Berra, Mulgrew, Robertson, Brown, Forrest, Armstrong, McArthur, Phillips, Griffiths.

No surprises. Gordon Strachan goes with the same side from Friday's 3-0 win in Lithuania.