Scotland assistant manager Terry Butcher reckons the Scotland B international against Northern Ireland is crucial despite criticism over its timing.
The game at Broadwood Stadium comes 24 hours before two vital SPL games on Thursday night, and days before the final Old-Firm derby of the season that severely affected national coach George Burley’s selection.
With Steven Naismith the only high-profile player from the top six clubs involved in the game, Butcher believes it is still a worthwhile exercise for the country.
"The usual prophets of doom have been rattling their gums about this week's B international against Northern Ireland,” Butcher told the Sunday Mirror.
“They say the game should never be played at this stage of the season and claim it's a worthless exercise.
"Actually, as it's the first such match of its kind under George Burley, this is a good opportunity for him to see what is below the senior level and assess candidates for the top team.
"It gives us a great chance to have a look at players like Motherwell's David Clarkson, Norwich keeper David Marshall and the newly-discovered George Boyd, who has been banging them in for Darren Ferguson at Peterborough.
"The scarcity of suitable dates for internationals means any chance to view Scottish talent in a competitive game should not be passed up - yet the familiar knocking of George and the Scotland team continues.
"There has been more criticism and bitterness directed towards the Scotland coach than was given to England's Steve McClaren after the 'Mary Poppins umbrella' incident.
Butcher continued: "I hope the public can see why World Cup qualifiers in June would have been a disaster for the country.
“The Championship - where a large number of Scottish players ply their trades - ends, a full five weeks before the other countries in our group finish their league campaigns."