Anna Signeul admits a delicate balance has to be struck as her side attempt to qualify for the 2015 World Cup by beating Group 4 favourites Sweden 3-1 or better in Gothenburg tonight.

"We don't want to be stupid and just throw caution to the wind," the Scotland coach said. "Sweden love to play counter-attacking football and for us to leave too much space at the back would just play into their hands.

"That's what they're expecting because they've been telling the media here we will go for it."

Group 4 is the only one of the seven Uefa groups to have gone down to the wire and, even if Signeul's side don't get the desired result tonight, they are assured of a place in the play-offs.

As well as Sweden or Scotland, Italy are the only other side who are guaranteed a play-off spot. The Netherlands should be the third team, and the fourth place will be taken by Russia, Ukraine or Wales.

"It says something about Scotland that this is the only group out of the seven in Europe which hasn't already been won by the top seed," Signeul said. "It has been a convincing campaign. We've won eight of our nine games and scored a lot of goals."