Scotland will kick off a week of International fixtures facing Austria in a friendly game at the Ernst Happel Stadion in Vienna. Scotland goes into the match in the backdrop of being ranked in its highest position ever in the Fifa Rankings at 14^th position.

The Scottish team has been hit with a number of injuries ahead of the friendly, in which Alex McLeish will look to get his tactics right ahead of the crucial Euro 2008 qualifier match against Faroe Islands on June 6. Kenny Miller, Steven Pressley, James McFadden and Craig Beattie are certain to miss the game while Scott Brown and Russell Anderson are reported to be doubtful for the game.

McLeish hopes that Scott Brown and Russell Anderson will be available for the game against Faroe Islands. Lokomotiv Moscow striker Garry O'Connor received a controversial call-up replacing the injured James McFadden. This is the first time that O'Conner has been called into the Scottish national squad since his infamous desertion during the Euro 2008 qualifier against Ukraine. McLeish has also called up West Ham United defender Christian Dailly.

McLeish revealed that 24-year old striker has already apologized and he could not have ignored the striker's form at Locomotive. "Garry has apologized for the private problems that led to him missing games. Andy Watson saw him in a recent domestic match and was impressed. I think he merits a return to the squad following recent call-offs", McLeish.

Meanwhile Euro 2008 hosts Austria have selected four new faces in the two friendlies against Scotland and Paraguay. Austria coach Josef Hickersberger has been impressed with 20-year-old SK Rapid Wien forward Erwin Hoffer, who has scored more than 18 goals in the 30 matches he appeared at junior level. Emin Sulimani, 20, Sebstian Prödl, 19, and Jürgen Patochka, 30, were also called up.

Austria is an automatic qualifier for the Euro 2008 by virtue of being the co-hosts for the event.  Switzerland is the other host nation.