David Weir: We had one of our finest wins last time we played Norway – let's hope that's a good omen

I CAN'T THINK about our latest World Cup opponents Norway without calling to mind the fact that my international career really got going because of a game against them. I travelled to France '98 not expecting to play at any point. Then I had only appeared in friendlies for the national team and really only jumped on the Scotland beat as a consistent squad member once the qualifying campaign for those finals had ended.

The team was established and I was a player to be used in emergencies. When Colin Calderwood broke his hand as we found ourselves 1-0 down against Norway in our second group match in France, I didn't even believe then the emergency that would give me game time had arrived.

My memory isn't the best. But vivid in my mind is Craig Brown telling me and Matt Elliott to go and warm up and, as I ran down the pitch in a picturesque Bordeaux stadium, thinking to myself that Matt would get the nod.

Thankfully, I was wrong and I have been reminded this week that, not only did I do okay when I went on, but the good ball I played through for Craig Burley to score an equaliser means I set up Scotland's last goal in a major finals. I don't know if I am supposed to be chuffed at that, but I find it a grim statistic.

The pleasure I derive from what I did that day is that my performance allowed me to keep my place and rack up the caps as a regular until I retired under Berti Vogts. At 38, and back for the past three years, I still want to keep on representing my country for as long as I possibly can. But I hate that there seems to have been some attempt to present the manager George Burley and me as being involved in a battle of wills that, in the case of the latest squad, I have won because I am in it and George has been complimentary about me.

People are looking for angles and stories and seeking to create a conflict that is not there where our relationship is concerned. I won't fall out with anyone about playing for my country; I won't end my Scotland career by voicing any bitterness and just want to help the team by playing whenever I am asked. I did that in playing against Northern Ireland only a matter of six weeks ago and I'm reluctant even to comment on a non-issue because you can inadvertently fuel it.

If I'm not wanted by Scotland then I'll have a few more rest days, and so be it. They wouldn't be unwelcome. If being in the game this long has brought me anything, I hope it is an added maturity to deal with any situations. If I ever had any maturity in the first place…

I do feel that I have had a good start to the season and I know that Stephen McManus's suspension could open up an opportunity for me to partner Gary Caldwell in defence. But I wouldn't be so conceited as to believe that I am certain to play.

I haven't actually spoken to Gary since our spot of grappling at the end of the Old Firm game in April. I'm told the other day he joked that we would now have the chance to finish off our fight. I'm sure we will, and do that by shaking hands. I think both of us would agree our actions at the end of the game that night weren't the finest moments of our careers. It was a simple case of both of us desperately wanting to win the game for our teams. There will be no ill feeling. We both want Scotland to win in six days' time.

I'm delighted the game will be on Saturday at 3pm. Hampden on an international occasion is always at its best when we play then and we have had some memorable encounters in recent years. Pleasingly, we also recorded one of our finest wins in any circumstances the last time we played Norway, in Oslo three years ago during the last World Cup campaign. A Kenny Miller double paved the way for us to come away with a 2-1 win and I don't think either side will have changed that much since then. I hope that can be a positive omen and that I can add to great memories I have of facing Norway.