Scotland welcome England to Hampden Park on June 10 for a 2018 World Cup qualifier, with the hosts needing a victory to keep alive their hopes of making it to Russia next year. 

At the halfway point of qualifying, Gordon Strachan's side sit fourth in the group and have seven points from five games.

Although they lie six points behind leaders England, they are just two behind second-placed Slovakia and one behind Slovenia in third.

However, only the group winners will qualify automatically for the World Cup finals with the eight best runners-up going into a two-legged play-off, and Strachan admitted it's a "must-perform" game for his side, per BBC Sport.

A win for the Scots would give them a huge boost ahead of September's clashes against Lithuania, with whom they drew 1-1 in October, and Malta, the side they beat 5-1 back in September.

Group leaders England, meanwhile, are well set to progress as they are unbeaten with four wins and a draw.

The Three Lions are also yet to concede a goal but have warmed up for the game in unusual style, by training with the Royal Marines in Devon.

The Press Association's Simon Peach was impressed with Gareth Southgate's unorthodox pre-match preparation:

Simon Peach @SimonPeach

This image of a half-drowned Gareth Southgate is brilliant, so too his decision to take England on a secret trip to learn from the Marines

Scotland have a strong Celtic presence in their squad, and the team are likely to be dominated by players from Brendan Rodgers' treble-winning side.

Scottish FA @ScottishFA

SCOTLAND | Here's your Scotland Squad to face England on 10 June. #SCOENG

England have several absentees including Jordan Henderson, Danny Rose and Ross Barkley, and Nathaniel Clyne has withdrawn since the squad was announced by the Football Association.

Harry Kane, who finished the season with 29 Premier League goals, should get the nod over Marcus Rashford in attack while Adam Lallana, who scored the last time these two sides met, should also feature.

England @England

25 players have been called up for the #ThreeLions' games against Scotland and France next month. Read more:

Probable Scotland Starting XI

GK: Craig Gordon, Celtic.
RB: Kieran Tierney, Celtic.
CB: Charlie Mulgrew, Blackburn.
CB: Russell Martin, Norwich.
LB: Andrew Robertson, Hull.
DM: James McArthur, Crystal Palace
DM: Scott Brown, Celtic
RW: James Forrest, Celtic
CM: Stuart Armstrong, Celtic
LW: Robert Snodgrass, West Ham.
CF: Leigh Griffiths, Celtic.

Probable England Starting XI

GK: Joe Hart, Manchester City.
RB: Kyle Walker, Tottenham.
CB: Gary Cahill, Chelsea
CB: John Stones, Manchester City.
LB: Ryan Bertrand, Southampton.
MF: Adam Lallana, Liverpool.
MF: Eric Dier, Tottenham.
MF: Dele Alli, Tottenham.
RW: Jesse Lingard, Manchester United.
CF: Harry Kane, Tottenham.
LW: Raheem Sterling, Manchester City.

Head-to-Head Record: Scotland vs. England

England beat Scotland the last time these two sides met back in November. A trio of headers from Daniel Sturridge, Lallana and Gary Cahill did the damage in a 3-0 win.

That win means Scotland have never beaten England in a World Cup qualifier with the Three Lions having won both of their other meetings, 4-2 in 1954 and 1-0 in 1950, as provided by 11v11.com

Scotland have a better record in European Championship games with the two sides sharing two wins apiece and a draw.

However, they have most frequently met in the now-defunct British Championship with England taking 35 wins to Scotland's 30 and 20 draws.

Overall, the Three Lions just edge the head-to-head record since they first met in 1872, as per 11v11.com, but it's close and demonstrates why England cannot afford to be complacent at Hampden.

Scotland total wins 41

England total wins 48

Draws: 24

England have made light work of qualifying with the only blemish on their record being a goalless draw against Slovenia back in October.

However, due to the rivalry betwee the two nations, the Three Lions can expect a fierce atmosphere at Hampden, which may help inspire the hosts.

Scotland grabbed a morale-boosting 1-0 win over Slovenia last time out thanks to a late Chris Martin goal, giving them confidence going into the game and reigniting their qualification hopes.

Yet they will be underdogs on Saturday, given the respective records of both sides and the calibre of players they have available.

Southgate's side certainly possess the attacking quality to win, particularly with Kane, who ended the season in superb goalscoring form, ably backed up by the craft and guile of Lallana and Alli.