Craig Levein will be relying on Scotland's youngsters to impress in their friendly with the Faroe Islands.
Emerging players given opportunity to shine for the Scots
Craig Levein will be relying on Scotland's youngsters to impress in Tuesday night's international friendly against the Faroe Islands.
Levein's squad has been severely depleted by injury ahead of the Pittodrie clash, with nine players pulling out of his plans.
The numerous casualties have prompted the boss to call on several emerging players for the encounter, with fledgling talents Danny Wilson and Barry Bannan poised to make their international debuts.
The Scots host their northern neighbours on the back of a mixed start to their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign.
Levein's men secured a goalless draw against Lithuania in their opener in September followed by a 2-1 win over Liechtenstein.
However, they have since suffered back-to-back defeats to the Czech Republic and world champions Spain, leaving them third in Group I with four points, but still in the running for a qualifying spot.
Meanwhile the Faroe Islands, coached by ex-Republic of Ireland manager Brian Kerr, make the trip to Aberdeen having endured a far less impressive start to their qualifying campaign.
The minnows currently sit rock bottom of Group C with just a solitary point to their name after five games, and will be looking for a positive result against the Scots to provide a timely morale-boost.
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While Wilson and Bannan have been named to make their first Scotland appearances, Blackpool left-back Stephen Crainey has also been selected for his first international outing in more than six years.
Wilson lines up in central defence alongside Steven Caldwell, who was called into the squad after brother and Wigan team-mate Gary pulled out with a thigh problem.
Sunderland's Phil Bardsley keeps his place at right-back after winning his first cap in the 3-2 qualifying defeat by Spain, while Crainey wins his seventh cap.
Goalkeeper Craig Gordon, with more than twice as many caps as the back
four put together, returns after missing the first four European qualifiers with a broken arm.
Darren Fletcher captains the side in a relatively experienced central midfield.
Shaun Maloney, who was called up after playing 90 minutes for Celtic in their 1-0 win over St Mirren on Sunday, is included alongside Blackpool playmaker Charlie Adam.
Aston Villa's Bannan and Derby winger Kris Commons are likely to play out wide to support QPR striker Jamie Mackie, who gets his first shift in his preferred centre-forward position on his third appearance.
Wilson and Bannan were among three players in the original squad who had been called up for the first time, alongside Dundee United forward David Goodwillie.
Wilson, 18, has played just one first-team game for Liverpool since his multi-million pound summer move from Rangers and is not included in Roy Hodgson's 25-man Premier League squad.
But he has UEFA Champions League experience with Rangers and Levein was keen to see him in action as he looks for a successor to David Weir, who will be 41 and possibly retired when Scotland play their next Euro 2012 qualifier.
Bannan was a Scotland Under 21 team-mate of Wilson's until last month and has earned promotion to the full squad after forcing his way into the Villa first team this season.
Only Levein's starting line-up has been announced by the Scottish Football Association, so Kilmarnock pair Cammy Bell and Craig Bryson, Motherwell defender Steven Saunders, Wigan midfielder James McArthur, St Johnstone's Murray Davidson, Swindon full-back Paul Caddis and Goodwillie could all win first caps at some stage.
Scotland team to face the Faroe Islands: Gordon, Bardsley, Caldwell, Wilson, Crainey, Commons, Maloney, Fletcher (capt), Adam, Bannan, Mackie.