SCOTLAND boss Gordon Strachan must will his players to be brave and play without fear in tonight's daunting World Cup qualifier in Croatia.

Hopes of qualifying are already long gone and Scotland's prospects of a win tonight have been written off, with Croatia as short as 4/11 with some bookmakers to win in Zagreb while Scotland are priced at up to 11/1.

Igor Stimac's side are joint Group A leaders on 16 points. Scotland, on two, have gone seven competitive games without a win.

But, according to Strachan, taking on the team ranked No.4 in the world will reveal much about the mental strength of his makeshift squad.

"Yes there is a fear of getting beaten, that's the way it should be," said Strachan. "But when you have the ball there should be no fear at all. They have to be brave.

"There are times in your career when you have to be. Your career can change on small games. But there are big games as well and this might be one of them for somebody.

"All the lads are different in their own way. But it's when you get on to the football field, that's when your true character comes out. Whatever you do off the field doesn't matter.

"I think if you look back at any footballer's career you ask 'how did they behave under pressure'? 'How did they behave when they really needed to perform?' So it's one of those games. They need to learn about their own characters."

Leigh Griffiths will make his first start for Scotland as Strachan tries to rely on a counter-attacking style against the Croats.

The 22-year-old player of the year is expected to start up front on his own in a 4-1-4-1 formation. Griffiths's only previous cap was as a substitute in a friendly in Luxembourg in November, but he will get further reward for his electrifying season on loan at Hibs by playing from kick-off in Zagreb.

The Wolves forward is expected to start ahead of a midfield of captain James Morrison, Shaun Maloney, Barry Bannan and Robert Snodgrass, with James McArthur sitting in front of the back four. Russell Martin and Andy Webster are likely to be the central pairing with Alan Hutton and Steven Whittaker as full-backs and Allan McGregor in goal.

"Leigh has played well, whether it's with people playing off him or in the lone role," said Strachan.

"I just think we've got to pick a team bearing in mind what we're best at, at the moment. It might be different in the future. But I'm looking at what we've got here thinking about the best we can do.

"Leigh has been so easy to manage it's incredible. He keeps himself to himself but when you speak to him he's always attentive, which is good. I've enjoyed his company."