Mark Hughes will begin exorcising the biggest disappointment of his career this evening while retaining genuine hopes that Wales will still be able to take part in Euro 2004 despite their painful play-off defeat by Russia.

Hughes will head Wales' appeal to UEFA, to be heard in Nyon on March 19th, as they attempt to have Russia excluded from the competition in Portugal following Yegor Titov's positive drug test.

With Hughes still optimistic, tonight's friendly with Scotland can be considered as much a warm-up for the European Championship as it is for the autumn's World Cup qualifiers.

"I think we've got a good case," said the former Manchester United striker, who has seen his side's winless streak stretch to seven games and 11 months.

"We wouldn't be pursuing this if we didn't think there was a glimmer of hope. Perhaps people outside Wales are making the assumption that we don't have a chance, but I think we've got a good, firm case. If England had gone to Istanbul and lost, then one of the Turkish players had failed a test, there would have been a far bigger fuss."

Titov tested positive for bromantan after the goalless first leg in Moscow during November and came on as a sub in the 1-0 loss at the Millennium Stadium.

Hughes addressed his squad - depleted by nine withdrawals - about the matter on Sunday evening, with emotions still running high among his players.

"I don't hold out much hope, but all you want, as players, is justice and retribution," said the captain Gary Speed, who wins his 80th cap tonight having briefly considered retirement after the play-off defeat.

Berti Vogts admitted last night that he has compiled a list of Scottish-based foreign players who he would consider selecting for the national side should he be given the go-ahead by his employers at the Scottish FA.

The German remains unconvinced by FIFA's recently proposed two-year residency clause for players with dual nationality, but would do "what is best for the team" should the SFA permit him to select naturalised players.

One of those players could be Celtic's English midfielder Alan Thompson, who Vogts described as "the best left-sided player in the United Kingdom".

The debate has unsettled the Scotland squad, who yesterday lost Sunderland striker Kevin Kyle to an injured foot, with captain Christian Dailly urging against the possible recruitment of the likes of Lorenzo Amoruso, Didier Agathe or Thompson.

"I would rather lose with a team of Scots than win with a team of foreign players, whether they be Zinedine Zidane or anybody else," said the West Ham defender.