Scotland need to draw or defeat Poland in their penultimate Euro 2016 qualifier in Glasgow tonight in order to keep their hopes of booking a place in the finals in France next summer alive.

Lose, and their chances of participating in their first tournament finals since France '98 are at an end.

It will be a tall order. The national team's displays of late have not been wholly convincing. They only performed well in spells against World Cup holders Germany at Hampden last month.

But they need to produce a 90 minute performance in order to get the result they desire. Here, chief football writer Matthew Lindsay examines how they can emerge successful.

PIVOTAL PLAYERS

Poland are by no means a one man team. Arkadiusz Milik, Jakub B?aszczykowski, Grzegorz Krychowiak and Kamil Glik, among others, are all fine professionals.

But Robert Lewandowski, the Bayern Munich striker, is by far and away their most dangerous player. The 27-year-old is currently the most lethal predator in world football. He has netted 19 goals for club and country in 13 games this season.

His strike rate in recent weeks has been nothing short of staggering. Lewandowski has scored 12 goals in four starts for Bayern. That haul included five in a Bundesliga game against Wolfsburg in the Allianz Arena – in nine minutes. Be afraid Scotland. Be very afraid.

The national team prevented him from scoring in the Group D encounter in Warsaw back in October. But can they do so twice? It remains to be seen.

Gordon Strachan does not have a world class talent like the former Lech Poznan and Borussia Dortmund centre forward at his disposal.

But that is not to say victory over Poland is an impossibility. His side competed well against the second-placed side in the section last year and picked up an invaluable point away from home. He needs, though, all of his key players to perform to the best of their abilities.

How Scott Brown fares in central midfield will be crucial. The Celtic man has been hot and cold this season. So much is demanded of him by both the Scottish champions and by Scotland. He has made himself available for selection to both despite not being fully fit. It is fair to say that when Brown performs his team does well.

Steven Naismith will also be important. He failed to turn up in the 1-0 defeat to Georgia over in Tbilisi last month. His below par showing led to him being dropped for the rematch against Germany at Hampden a few days later.

But, at the time, he was not featuring regularly for Everton. Now he is. The former Kilmarnock and Rangers forward has forced his way into Roberto Martinez’s plans. A stunning hat-trick against Chelsea will have done his confidence wonders. In the absence of James Morrison, who is suspended, it is imperative Naismith delivers.

KEY CLASH

How the Scotland defence fares against Lewandowski will be crucial. Gordon Greer was exceptional against him in Warsaw last year. The Brighton man’s crunching challenge on the prolific striker effectively ended his influence on proceedings and the visitors got a 2-2 draw as a result.

It is likely that Russell Martin and Grant Hanley will get the nod to play at centre back and Greer will be left on the bench on this occasion. They will have to be at their very best to halt their opponent’s scoring streak.

TACTICAL BATTLE

Strachan has spoken on more than one occasion about the need to deprive Lewandowski of service if Scotland are going to overcome Poland. His side retaining possession, then, will be important. But it will take more than that to come out on top this evening.

Poland are a good counter attacking team. They aren’t especially creative in central midfield. The same is not true at full-back and on the wing.

Milik, the Ajax striker, and B?aszczykowski, the Borussia Dortmund player who has rediscovered his best form on loan at Fiorentina, will be important to Adam Nawalka’s game plan. Milik will switch positions with Lewandowski and Scotland will need to be wary of that ploy.

Elsewhere, Kamil Glik, the Torino centre half, will be important for Poland. He is very much the leader of the backline. Elsewhere, Krychowiak, the Sevilla midfielder, will seek to break down the Scotland attacks and win the ball for his side.

How Scotland approach the game will be interesting. They will have the majority of the sell-out crowd on their side. They will have to take the game to their opponents than they did more than in their last meeting. But to fail to treat Lewandowski with the utmost respect would be fatal.

SCORE PREDICTION

Scotland 2, Poland 1.