YOU have to feel a bit sorry for Poland coach, Adam Nawalka, and not just because his side lost 1-0 to Scotland.

What chance does he have of knowing how good the men in Dark Blue really are, or how dangerous they might be in the 2016 Euro Championship qualifiers?

Gordon Strachan can't be sure yet he has the answer - and he's been in charge of them for the past 14 months.

Not even last night's challenge match in Warsaw - arranged before the countries were drawn in the same group for the qualifiers - could have given either man many clues.

The fact is that, 11 games into his tenure, Strachan is still shaping and moulding his side. By the time they return to Poland in October, he could well have something akin to a settled side. But, will it bear any resemblance to the one which won last night?

Strachan will certainly hope he has a healthy Darren Fletcher - a welcome sight as a second half-time sub last night - available to lead the team out, and that Steven Fletcher will also be fully fit to lead the line.

Grant Hanley - on whose broad shoulders Strachan has placed so much responsibility since he stepped into the hot seat - will be another welcomed back after missing this game through injury. Likewise, Robert Snodgrass, a potent goal threat in the system Strachan has decided suits us best.

The system, at least, is something on which the manager is settled. Given the frequency with which any national team boss loses key men at the most inopportune moments, shaping a squad so that, if one man drops out, another can comfortably take his place already well-versed on what his duties and responsibilities are, is his priority.

Strachan could be seen taking copious notes during last night's game. It is still a steep learning curve, even for such an experienced manager.

Among his jottings, there was undoubtedly a thank you to someone on high that Scotland have not just one reliable No.1, but two, in the form of David Marshall - with two excellent saves first half - and Allan McGregor, who watched the Cardiff man from the bench.

Strachan will also have noted his side is not found lacking when it comes to bravery. Even little men, like Ikechi Anya and Barry Bannan, were prepared to take the ball despite the physical threat posed by much bigger opponents, more than ready to inject a bit of dig to the occasion.

Missing their icon, Robert Lewandowski, and his Borussia Dortmund team-mate, national skipper, Jakub Blaszczykowski, the Poles lacked both guile and cutting edge. But Strachan will not be fooled. He did not expect to unearth the secret of how to take three points off the Poles later this year.

The victory is a bonus, but what he found most worthwhile was the opportunity to let his players sample the Stadion Naradowy and everything else, infrastructure-wise, the Scots will face again when they return on Euro 2016 duty.

Between now and that campaign beginning in September with the visit to Germany, all that is in the Scotland diary is a friendly against Nigeria in London in May.

Strachan will want to arrange one more warm-up match, just before facing Joachim Low's Group D favourites, who beat Chile 1-0 last night.

It will then be show time for real, and the cast invited to take centre stage for Scotland will be revealed.