WHAT do Broxi Bear, Hoopy the Huddle Hound, Kingsley and Steven Naismith have in common?

They all know what it feels like to have adrenaline pump through them as they turn down the home straight and sprint for the finish line.

Last Friday, as the international break appeared on the horizon, mascots from around the country gathered at Hamilton Park race course for a mad dash in a race that had all the pace of a Game of Thrones plot line.

It was a light-hearted moment that eventually saw the racecourse’s very own Duke the Horse cross the line in front of thousands while Nuts the Squirrel nursed a tight hamstring some 150 yards further back.

One week on, Everton and Scotland forward Naismith is approaching the end of an altogether different and much more momentous sprint for a photo finish.

The national team is now on the home straight in what has been an incredible journey over the last year. Six games have gone by, three wins have been earned, two draws carved out and one defeat reluctantly taken to world champions Germany.

The result? Scotland are just four games away from their first major tournament since 1998, starting tomorrow night in Tbilisi against Georgia.

"When you start a campaign, there's so long to go,” explained Naismith. “This is the first get-together where you're like, 'we're coming to the end here and the finish line is in sight'.

“All that hard work you've put in reminds you what it's all for.

“The game against Georgia at Ibrox [1-0 win] was probably our best performance. We just didn't have the finishing to get more goals.

“Poland away [2-2] was another good performance so we'll look back on these to refresh ourselves. You work so hard to get into the national team and it's for these kind of trips.

"Everybody grew up seeing Scotland at these major tournaments. When you turn into that adult and you're in football and you're not going, it's hard to take.

“You maybe realise how much you took it for granted as a kid, watching Scotland at major tournaments and seeing how great the atmosphere was.

“We have a chance to change things back to that and get to these finals. As the campaign goes on, the support has been amazing and that gives you the drive to go again.”

Focus on the upcoming double header against Georgia and Germany has naturally been there for supporters for some time as excitement has built as the amount of games left in Group D trundles down.

Anticipation of tomorrow night’s game has been sky ever since Scotland’s vital 1-1 draw with the Republic of Ireland in Dublin back in June. It is a point that not only helps keep Scotland in the mix to finish top of the group, but makes sure Martin O’Neill’s team remain outsiders to even claim a play-off place in third.

The significance of that draw at the Aviva was not lost on Naismith.

"I said when the group was drawn that, if you win your home games and take points away, you're not going to be far away,” said the 28-year-old. “That's turned out to be the case.

“We played better against Ireland at home and we had the quality which won us the game. The away game was first and foremost about not losing.

“Then we hoped to get a win but it wasn't to be. We showed great character in that second half to go for it. Now there's everything to play for and it's in our hands.”

Since that memorable match, game time has been hard to come by for Naismith since returning to Goodison Park.

The man who began a match 22 times for Roberto Martinez’s team last year has only had four substitute appearances this season on Barclays Premier League duty.

While this dip in starts may be enough to cost some their place in the national squad, Strachan has made it clear Naismith’s professionalism and contribution to the cause is deserving of his loyalty.

The former Rangers forward appreciates the sentiment, but is keen to make prove he is there on merit.

"It's nice to hear,” he said. “For players who haven't played much [at club level], it doesn't matter too much at this time of year. You've had a full pre-season.

“It's now over the next couple of months that you might suffer. Like he says, if you work hard at training and you're performing for him, that's all he can ask for. If you're not playing for your club, you just need to make sure you're ready for these trips.

"I haven't played as many games so I've tried to work on doing a bit more. I've done extra training and hopefully I'll get the rewards for that with Scotland.”

Naismith added: “I love coming away with Scotland, I look forward to it no matter what.

“Having that wee break from the constant club action is nice.

“I know how quickly it can change. My Everton career got off to a slow start. After a year, I broke in and played regularly for 18 months. Then it changes again.

“I'll work my hardest every day and hope to take my chances when they come.”