And, for this game against Wales in Cardiff tonight, it is a tie that Scotland simply must win. I think everyone would accept that.
The four Celtic lads – Kris Commons, Scott Brown, James Forrest and Charlie Mulgrew – will be desperate to get one over their Hoops team-mate, Joe Ledley, who will be lining up for Wales.
But the guys who should make the biggest difference, in my opinion, for Craig Levein's side, are Darren Fletcher and Brown in the middle of the park.
Fletcher has done really well to come back after such a serious illness, while Brown is a hugely influential figure. I think those two can give Scotland a little bit of bite in the heart of the pitch and I also think that I'd fancy Scotland to edge the game.
Of course, Wales have had a disastrous start, even worse than Scotland's, and they'll feel that if they can get a win it can kick-start them as well.
"I think that, ahead of the game in Belgium against a very strong side, it is imperative that Levein's side go into the game on the back of a win. There is still time to salvage the campaign, but we would all expect that three points is a necessity to keep that little bit of hope going.
I don't know whether or not Kris will start the game, although I think the form he has shown so far this season would suggest that he perhaps should.
His pass on Sunday in the win against Hearts that set up Georgios Samaras for the winner was of a very high quality and he has rediscovered his early Celtic form again.
The Celtic contingent are on a high because they have been getting good results and performing well. They have a confidence and an assurance about their game, although it remains to be seen just what Levein decides is his best starting line-up.
The guys who are going into the fray from Celtic have that added little edge from playing in the Champions League this season and that can be significant when it comes to the international stage.
You also have Steven Fletcher in there, who has had an excellent start at Sunderland.
Getting the issue resolved between him and Levein was the sensible thing to do and it was always going to have to come via a third party.
I think the two Fletchers and Brown will certainly start the game, but I am not sure whether or not he will begin with the other Celtic pair.
And, of course, Neil will have a real interest in the game because you also have Ledley.
I'm sure there has been a fair bit of banter among them in the build-up to the game, but as both a player and a manager, I never had any issues playing against team-mates.
These guys will do it every day in training at Lennoxtown, but, as a player, as soon as you cross the white line and go into a game, it doesn't matter who you are playing against, you just want to win the game for your own team.
Lennon's worry will simply be the fact that there are 14 Celtic players off on international duty and your concern as a manager is always that they come back fit and free from injury.
He lost Samaras the last time he went away to play for Greece, and you always just want to get through a round of international matches without having guys come back who have picked up any kind of injury or niggle.
With a host of SPL and Champions League games looming, Lennon will want his full quota of players available to him.
