Pat Nevin believes that Republic of Ireland stars James McCarthy and Aiden McGeady will come in for special attention from Scotland fans during Friday's Euro 2016 qualifier, but that booing will be the extent of the abuse.
McCarthy and McGeady were both born in Scotland before declaring for Ireland and former Scotland player Gordon McQueen has been accused or ramping up the tension ahead of the game by claiming that he hopes they both receive a "horrible reception".
McQueen was stinging in his criticism of the duo saying "I've got no time for these players. You’re born in Glasgow but then you go and play for somebody else? What’s that all about? I'm not having that at all. I hope it’s hard for them coming back here with Ireland."
And while former Scotland international Nevin concedes that McCarthy and McGeady are likely to come in for abuse from the Scottish crowd, he is confident that it won’t turn nasty.
Speaking to RTÉ Sport, he said: "They'll get abuse, that’s kind of normal. They will get booed every time they touch the ball but I hope it just doesn't go further than that.
"There’s a bit being whipped up in the press over here and I think that’s a little bit sad. The good thing is that it’s just the ones that are going are the Tartan Army fans.
"The darker side to it, you know the sectarian and the religious stuff. I don’t think that will be involved in Friday night because simply not that many Scotland fans are Rangers or Celtic fans, so that whole side of it has nothing to do with it.
"It’s just two guys who we rate highly who we’d rather would be playing for us," he added.
Nevin, who featured for Scotland the last time Ireland met the Scots in a qualification game, which Ireland won 1-0, believes Friday’s encounter will be a close affair.
"I would be surprised if there’s anything other than a goal between it. In fact there might not even be a goal between it, I think it will be 1-1."
Meanwhile, McCarthy continues to be be assessed after reporting for international duty.
The Everton midfielder complained of a tight hamstring following his club's 1-1 Barclays Premier League draw at Sunderland on Sunday.
He and full-back Stephen Ward headed for the gym as their team-mates warmed up at Gannon Park in Malahide, including midfielder Glenn Whelan, who has made a rapid recovery since fracturing a bone in his leg during last month's draw in Germany.
