SCOTLAND will have to be considerably less charitable than their own supporters in Minsk tomorrow if progress towards World Cup qualification is to be maintained. The 250 fans making the trip for the match against Belarus have been diligently raising funds in the workplace to bring some relief to children who have suffered from the effects of the Chernobyl disaster 11 years ago.

The players who wear the dark blue at the Dinamo Stadium will require a contrasting ruthlessness if a victory which now looks imperative is to be secured. The Scots' captain, Gary McAllister, was not prepared to contemplate defeat. "It's perfectly straightforward for me," said the Coventry midfielder.

"We have three matches left, this one and then Belarus and Latvia at home, and all have to be won if we are to have any hope of reaching France next year."

McAllister will be first pick in manager Craig Brown's fiveman midfield, in front of a three strong central defence. He will be followed by Paul Lambert of Borussia Dortmund, but Brown revealed yesterday that he has still to decide whether Scot Gemmill of Nottingham Forest or Rangers Gordon Durie should be the third man. He has also to decide whether David Weir of Hearts or Brian McAllister of Wimbledon should join Derby's Christian Dailly and Tom Boyd of Celtic at the back.

Boyd was the only mild fitness scare on arrival in the Belarus capital, but is expected to have recovered from a cold. Notoriously unconvincing in friendly matches - McAllister called them "designed merely to keep you physically fit" - Scotland may confound recent criticism by reserving their form for the real thing.