Burley goes on the offensive with plan to play two strikers

SCOTLAND manager George Burley is preparing to part with recent tradition by accentuating the positive when Northern Ireland come to Hampden on August 20 for the final warm-up match before the qualifying campaign for the 2010 World Cup gets under way in Macedonia and Iceland the following month.

Alex McLeish and Walter Smith, his immediate predecessors in charge of the national team, favoured a 4-5-1 formation, with Kenny Miller or James McFadden usually deployed as the lone striker foraging for scraps.

Defending from the front just about covers it and, while it wasn't always pretty, results certainly improved. Scotland now sit at No.16 in the FIFA world rankings (one place behind England, stats fans). Smith and McLeish made the national team competitive. Now Burley wants to make them adventurous as well and he will begin that process by deploying two forwards against the Irish.

"We need to get the right balance," said Burley. "I'm still looking for the striking partnership. In the two previous games we've played with one striker and a midfield player joining in, as Darren Fletcher did against the Czech Republic, but in this game I will be looking to see if I can find the right pairing. That doesn't necessarily mean we will play two up front in Skopje. We'll be away from home and Macedonia's formation is slightly different. I've got to have an idea of a striker partnership, though, so I can use it against Macedonia or whoever."

Given his record at representative level in recent years, Miller would seem to be a certain starter. The identity of his partner remains to be seen. McFadden is currently injured and his Birmingham City team-mate, Garry O'Connor, has yet to find his feet at St Andrew's.

Motherwell's David Clarkson made an impressive, goal-scoring debut in Prague but lacks experience, as do Hibernian's Steven Fletcher and Cardiff City's Ross McCormack. Kris Boyd, the best finisher Burley possesses, has been only sporadically active at Ibrox and doubts remain about his all-round game. Shaun Maloney is withering on the vine at Villa Park while Craig Beattie has gone off radar along with Derek Riordan.

Burley has also had some help from an unlikely source in the Auld Enemy camp. England coach Stuart Pearce has supplied Burley with the dossiers on Macedonia he compiled when Steve McClaren's team met them in their Euro 2008 qualifying section.

"We've had them watched and I've watched them on DVD playing against England," said Burley. "I got some from reports from Stuart. They are a good side, very competitive and play a different formation to most sides – more of a 3-4-3 formation. They're very athletic and we certainly can't afford to take anything for granted. We're aware it won't be easy."

Celtic's Stephen McManus will lead out the side against Macedonia, Iceland and Norway in the absence of Barry Ferguson as the Rangers midfielder recovers from ankle surgery.