Scotland are within touching distance of ending their long wait to qualify for another major finals since the 1998 World Cup.

Okay, an away tie against Norway or Serbia is not going to be easy, never mind tonight's tie against Israel, but Scots are allowed to dream.

This is, after all, their first play-off encounter for 17 years - since a 6-0 humbling by Netherlands in Amsterdam.

For Israel, the wait has been even more painful. They have not been to a major finals since the 1970 World Cup in Mexico.

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The mayhem Covid-19 is causing football continues, with Scotland's Under-19 international against England being called off at half-time after head coach Billy Stark received news that he has tested positive.

Celtic midfielder Nir Bitton, who has been playing central defence for Israel, is a surprise starter despite carrying an ankle injury that club manager Neil Lennon had insisted would rule him out of the game.

The visitors are without six players because of Covid-19 testing, but Ludogorets Razgrad left-back Taleb Tawatha and Maccabi Tel Aviv midfielder Dor Peretz, who both started last month's 1-1 draw at Hampden, are the only ones who drop out of the starting line-up from Israel's last game against Slovakia.

Maccabi Tel Aviv's Sheran Yeina starts in defence, while club-mate Eyal Golasa also returns to the starting line-up after missing out last month because of the death of his father.

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Stephen O'Donnell and Scott Gallagher have had a bit of a shaky start to the season for Motherwell, but the pair are called into Scotland's defence tonight in the absence of Liam Palmer, Kieran Tierney and Scott McKenna.

Aston Villa's John McGinn returns to the starting line-up after missing out against Czech Republic through injury and is joined in midfield by Rangers' Ryan Jack and Celtic's Callum McGregor.

When was the last time Scotland started with two up front? Well, they are going for it with Sheffield United's Oli McBurnie joining Queens Park Rangers' Lyndon Dykes in a forward line that certainly has plenty of physical presence.

Midfielders Kenny McLean and John Fleck drop to the bench.

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Craig Levein
Former Scotland manager on BBC Sportsound

Willie Miller
Former Scotland defender on BBC Sportsound

Scotland: Marshall, O'Donnell, Robertson, McTominay, Gallagher, Cooper, McGinn, Jack, McGregor, Dykes, McBurnie.

Substitutes: McLauchlin, Paterson, McLean, Porteous, Fleck, Fraser, Taylor, Shankland, McCrorie.

Israel: Marciano, Dasa, Yeina, Elhamed, Tibi, Golasa, Natcho, Solomon, Bitton, Zahavi, Dabbur.

Substitutes: Harush, Menachem, Dgani, Lavi, Weissman, Seba, Karzev, Arad, Abu Fani, Elmkies, Abu Hanna, Nitzan.

Billy Dodds
Former Scotland striker on BBC Sportsound

Scotland captain Andy Robertson doesn't think there will be any need for big motivational speeches because everyone is aware of the importance of the game.

"I've done it before and I will do it again, but in terms of these games, they speak for themselves," he said. "When we met up on Sunday and Monday, you got a sense that a big game was on the horizon and that's sometimes good enough."

Robertson hoped his side could overcome the loss of key players to Covid-19 and injuries.

"Losing three players the day before a game is always tough to any team, but we will deal with it as best we can and it's up to us to show that we have enough quality in this squad," he said.

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Tom English
BBC Scotland's chief sports writer

Never mind the debate about the formation, do you approve of that line-up and do you think it will win the game for Scotland?

Thumbs up for yes, thumbs down for no!

Craig Levein
Former Scotland manager on BBC Sportsound

So should Scott McTominay be in the back three or a back four?

Give us a thumbs up for a back three, thumbs down for a back four.

Just in, the Scotland starting line-up and it looks like it could be a back four after all...or will Scott McTominay play in a back three again?

Marshall, O'Donnell, Gallagher, Cooper, Robertson, McTominay, Jack, McGinn, McGregor, Dykes, McBurnie

Willie Miller
Former Scotland defender on BBC Sportsound

Talking of Craig Levein, it is 10 years to the day since he was lambasted for a 4-6-0 formation that lost 1-0 to Czech Republic in a European Championship qualifier in Prague.

Levein thinks call-offs will force present incumbent Steve Clarke to change from his recent use of a back three.

We'll give you the team news as soon as it's in.

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Craig Levein
Former Scotland manager on BBC Sportsound

BBC Radio Scotland's build-up to tonight's game has started on MW and digital.

Among those joining host Richard Gordon are former Scotland boss Craig Levein and former international players Willie Miller and Billy Dodds.

Liam McLeod is your commentator later from Hampden.

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Three days after taking a point at Hampden last month, Israel themselves required a stoppage-time equaliser from Ilay Elmkies to secure a 1-1 draw at home to Slovakia while Scotland took advantage of the Czechs having to pick from a completely fresh squad following Covid-19 positive tests.

Even against a side of international fringe men called up from their domestic league, Clarke's side fell behind early before a Lyndon Dykes equaliser then another Ryan Christie penalty shortly after half-time saved face.

Those results lifted Scotland, now unbeaten in five outings, up one place to 49 in the world rankings, while Israel have slipped slightly to 93 after a run of four games without a win. However, there certainly didn't look to be such a gap between them last time out.

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