Whatever happens at Wembley tonight, the fall-out from the cross-border clash of the Auld Enemies will no doubt be felt on another keenly-fought sporting battle taking place a couple of hundred miles away.

"Depending on the result, we'll see how keen the lads from either side are about getting revenge," said Scotland captain Scott Knowles, ahead of the Home Internationals at Ganton near Scarborough.

Football's own Home Internationals may have withered on the vine, but the annual duels in amateur golf are very much alive and swinging. The Scots, who won the Raymond Trophy in their own backyard at Glasgow Gailes last season, open the defence of the crown with a match against Wales this morning before squaring up to England and Ireland in the four-cornered contest over the next couple of days.

A joust with the neighbours on the other side of the wa' is always eagerly anticipated, of course. During that ultimately successful Home Internationals campaign of 2012, Scotland romped to a 10.5-4.5 victory over the defending champions, but England avenged that crushing defeat back in July when they beat the Scots 4.5-2.5 in the final of the European Team Championship in Denmark.

The six players who appeared in that European showdown - Graeme Robertson, Jack McDonald, James Ross, Scott Borrowman, Ewan Scott and Scottish Boys' champion Bradley Neil - form part of the 11-strong squad for the Ganton gathering.

There is no hiding place in this championship. While the matchplay format tests the skill and nerve of the combatants, the overall strength in depth of the pool of players is given a rigorous examination. "Unlike the Euros, which is six players, or the Eisenhower Trophy, which is just three, the Home Internationals is real test of all the players at our disposal," said Knowles, who has been the national skipper for five years. "It gives us an idea of what we have and the nature of the event means every player is challenged. This year, there has been more competition for places, which is encouraging."

England, as usual, have plenty of firepower, but even with their sizeable resources, the multiple champions have been left to fill the gaps as a whole host of big-hitters chase the American dream in the US Amateur Championship. Garrick Porteous, the British Amateur champion and Scottish Open Strokeplay winner, is one of half a dozen players who have opted out of the Home Internationals in favour of a trip across the Atlantic. That number also includes Matthew Fitzpatrick, the world No 2 who won the silver medal at the Open, and St Andrews Links Trophy winner Neil Raymond, as well as the likes of Max Orrin and Nathan Kimsey, who are both in the top 20 of the world amateur rankings.

"They still have a huge pool of talent and the fact the lad who won the European Individual Amateur Championship recently (Ashley Chesters) is not in the team shows their strength," noted Knowles.

Over the same Ganton course where Great Britain & Ireland memorably won the Walker Cup 10 years ago, that transatlantic tussle will loom large over this week's affair. The GB&I side for the biennial match with the USA will be named on Monday and the Home Internationals could offer one last chance to impress the selectors.

Given the dominance of English players on the international amateur scene this season, the GB&I top brass could probably fill their teamsheet with England's finest. In the name of diplomacy, though, there will be room for one or two from the other home nations.

Glenbervie man Robertson is possibly Scotland's best hope of a call-up and with an impressive record in team matchplay - he won six out of six in last year's Home Internationals - the 25-year-old is being urged to make a late statement of intent. Knowles added: "Graeme's matchplay record on the international front is exceptional and it's up to him to go out this week and continue to prove himself."