Dundee United striker Noel Hunt, younger brother of Reading's Stephen Hunt, will be out to prove a point tonight. The former Shamrock Rovers player has been in top form as United try to stay in contact with Scottish Premier League leaders Celtic and Rangers.
"It is a matter of staying with the big boys. The Old Firm will pick up points the whole time or most of the time. So it is just a matter of us trying to stay in third place and get a Uefa Cup place at the end of the season," said Hunt.
"Being called up for this B game by boss Pat Devlin is fantastic, with the added attraction that the game is being played in Scotland. I would love to follow my older brother into the Ireland senior team. Stephen has done great over the last two years. It is 12 months since he played in the B international against Scotland at Dalymount Park. Now he looks like a regular in the senior squad and he is an inspiration to me."
Devlin hopes to use all of his 17-man squad at some stage tonight and Hunt is set to figure prominently and likely to partner in-form Ipswich Town's Jon Walters in attack. Devlin will delay naming his squad until just before kick-off.
"Manager Alex McLeish has selected a strong panel with several key Old Firm players. But we hope to go one better than last year when we recorded a scoreless draw at Dalymount," he said.
Ipswich defender Alex Bruce, skipper for the night, says leading the side is a confidence boost. "It means I have to lead by example - It can be a huge step for all the players to senior honours when your recall how many were promoted after last season's B game."
Late call-ups Richie Byrne (Aberdeen) and Alan Bennett (Southampton) trained with the squad in Airdrie yesterday. Scotland v Rep of Ireland
Excelsior Park, Airdrie
Kick-off: 7.45pm
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