Scotland delighted their fans by securing a dramatic 1-0 victory over Croatia at home on Friday, boosting their hopes of finishing second in Nations League Group A1 behind Portugal.
To achieve this, Scotland must win against Poland and hope that Portugal defeat Croatia. Additionally, they need to make up a goal difference with Croatia to secure a place in the quarter-finals and be in Pot 1 for the World Cup qualifying draw.
The match against Poland will be crucial for both teams, as a positive result for either side could determine their final standings in the group.
If Scotland win but do not surpass Croatia in the standings, they will face relegation play-offs. However, failing to win will result in Scotland being relegated to League B, with Poland taking their place in the play-offs.
When Scotland faced Poland in September at Hampden Park, Poland emerged victorious with a 3-2 win, sealed by an injury-time penalty.
Team news
Poland will be missing key player Robert Lewandowski due to a lower back injury. In his absence, Piotr Zielinski will captain the team, with Arkadiusz Milik and Pawel Dawidowicz also unavailable.
Scotland's lineup is expected to remain similar to the one that played against Croatia, with the return of some previously injured players like Scott McKenna, Jack Hendry, John McGinn, and Stuart Armstrong. However, Che Adams and Angus Gunn will be absent.
The stats
Scotland ended an eight-game winless streak with their recent victory over Croatia, while Poland has only won one of their last eight matches.
In Poland's last 10 games, both teams have scored in nine of them, and in Scotland's last seven away matches, there have been goals at both ends in five games.
Scotland has won just one of their last eight away games, and both teams have scored in six of their last seven meetings.
Prediction
With both teams needing a positive result, the match is likely to be high-scoring. An early goal could open up the game for more scoring opportunities.
In the last 15 international matches involving Poland, both teams have scored in 12 of them, showcasing their attacking prowess. Despite missing Lewandowski, Poland has shown their ability to score, as seen in recent matches.
Scotland has recently kept clean sheets at home but faces a tougher challenge away. Their only away win in their last eight games was against Gibraltar in a friendly.
Scotland must adopt an offensive approach as a draw will not be sufficient for them. This should lead to an entertaining match where both teams are expected to find the back of the net.