Some fans are brazen about it, and even the quieter, more philosophical members of the Tartan Army have at least allowed themselves to think about it.
But how many goals will Scotland score against Gibraltar on Sunday evening?
One Scottish-based bookmakers was offering 66/1 yesterday that Gordon Strachan’s men will record their highest ever winning margin when they play the Group D minnows this weekend.
That would have to eclipse the current benchmark, set way back in February 1901 when Scotland ran out 11-0 winners over Ireland at Celtic Park in a British Home Championship fixture.
Sandy McMahon and Robert Hamilton helped themselves to four goals each, with John Campbell getting two and Davie Russell also adding his name to the scoresheet.
Prior to that, Scotland had scored nine or more on three occasions: a 9-0 win over Wales in 1878, a 10-2 win over Ireland in Belfast in 1888, and a 9-1 defeat of Ireland in 1899.
But it’s fair to say that Scotland and the trait of being prolific goal scorers have tended not to go hand-in-hand since then, with really resounding victories few and far between.
An 8-2 win over Ireland in Belfast in 1949 stands out in the post-war era, but sadly also does Scotland’s record defeat which still stands to this day in the shape of a 7-0 World Cup hammering to Uruguay in 1954.
Indeed, the last time Scotland scored eight or more was at Hampden on May 17, 1969, when they destroyed Cyprus 8-0.
Colin Stein scored four times and it remains the last time any Scotland player was able to celebrate scoring a hat-trick for his country.
Six has been the best Scotland have managed to muster in the more modern era.
Davie Cooper, Graeme Souness, Kenny Dalglish, Paul Sturrock, Mo Johnston and Charlie Nicholas all got a goal each in Scotland’s 6-1 friendly win over Yugoslavia in September 1984, before supporters had to wait a further 22 years to see their team rattle in half a dozen goals once more in a single game.
That was in the Euro 2008 qualifying campaign in September 2006, when Scotland hammered the Faroe Islands 6-0 at Celtic Park.
Kris Boyd scored twice on that occasion, with Darren Fletcher, James McFadden, Kenny Miller and Garry O’Connor also adding to the tally.
The fact Gibraltar have played four and lost four in Euro 2016 qualification so far would immediately suggest Scotland are overwhelming favourites this weekend, while the fact they have conceded 21 goals without scoring themselves would hint at Scotland’s strikers having a great chance to fill their boots.
However, one word of caution.
This will be Gibraltar’s 10th international since becoming a member of UEFA and they seem to be growing in confidence with every game as Group D wears on.
The Republic of Ireland and Poland both smashed seven past them early in the group stages, but Georgia only got three when they met in October and even world champions Germany could only muster four in their last outing in November.
So while Scotland fans will be hoping they can get out the abacus on Sunday, most will probably be content with three points and an encouraging performance.
One only needs to mention the word ‘Liechtenstein’ to bring back bad memories of watching Scotland struggle against a team they are expected to beat and beat comfortably, with a Stephen McManus header deep, deep into injury time sparing at least some of the nation’s blushes as Craig Levein’s side stuttered to a 2-1 win in September 2010.