Scotland manager Gordon Strachan insists he will forgive any player who errs on the side of caution against Qatar tonight.
The Scots meet the Middle Eastern minnows at Easter Road in a friendly match that is a mere appetiser for the main course in Dublin.
The one that matters is the Euro 2016 Group D qualifier against the Republic of Ireland in the Aviva Stadium a week tomorrow.
With that in mind, Strachan won’t be falling out with anyone who decides against going into a risky challenge against the Qataris.
He said: “There might be something, say a ball in the air in the middle of the park, and they might think ‘I might go for it, naw, maybe today I won’t.
“I am all right with that.
“That can happen.
“What I don’t want is for the boys to think this is a trial match and go careering into tackles just for the sake of showing me that ‘I’m trying really hard here.’
“That can be counterproductive.”
What Strachan does want the friendly used for is to sharpen up players whose seasons finished weeks ago.
He added: “What you can get from this game is a fitness level.”
Asked if he would be using the runout to experiment, in his inimitable style he replied: “I’m not experimenting on anybody!
“I know what everybody can do in this squad.
“My squad is quite consistent and this (the game) really is there for match fitness.
“I don’t think we’ve got players to do anything really cosmic.
“We’re quite happy with the kind of things we’ve been doing.”
Strachan was asked about comments made by former Celtic player Aiden McGeady that saw him claim that the Irish had better players than the Scots.
He shrugged and replied: “I’ve not got a problem with that.
“It’s good that you back your players.
“If you look at their team, I think they have more in the Premier League (in England) so I don’t have a problem with that at all.
“I’m comfortable with the players we’ve got, that’s for sure.
“Indeed, the more this week goes on, the more comfortable I get.”
Qatar held Northern Ireland to a 1-1 draw when they met on Sunday and Strachan isn’t expecting the match to be a walkover tonight.
He said: “They are a reasonable, physical side.
“They played 4-1-4-1 against Northern Ireland and they were stronger than I thought they were going to be.
“They moved the ball quickly and they use their strength to get close to the opposition.”
On a personal note for Strachan, he is delighted with the choice of the home of Hibs as tonight’s venue as it will enable his Edinburgh-based mother Catherine to make a rare appearance.
He said: “Since I was a kid she has only watched four or five games because she gets too nervous.
“That goes for playing and as a manager.
“In fact, I don’t think she has been to a game when I have been the manager.
“This one is just down the road for her.”
With a special spectator watching, Strachan obviously wants his players to get win tonight.
He said: “I don’t want to embarrass my mum at the age of 58!”