UEFA NATIONS LEAGUE GROUP B1
Republic of Ireland v Scotland, Aviva Stadium, 5pm
TV
Live coverage of all the build-up and match action from the Aviva Stadium from 4.15pm on RTÉ2. Streaming live online on RTÉ Player.
RADIO
Live radio coverage on RTÉ Radio 1.
ONLINE
We'll have a live match tracker on rte.ie/sport, the RTÉ News app, as well as updates and goals on RTÉ Soccer Twitter and RTÉ Sport Facebook.
WEATHER
Saturday will bring showers with some sunny spells too. The odd shower will be heavy. Highest temperatures of 16 to 18 degrees. Breezy again with fresh southwest winds veering westerly.
IS THE PRESSURE STARTING TO GROW?
It's been a disappointing start to the Nations League for Ireland and manager Stephen Kenny.
Having narrowly avoided finishing bottom of their Nations League group and relegation last time, hopes were high going into this campaign but things have yet to click for this Ireland team.
Two defeats in five days mean that Ireland are still searching for their first win in the Nations League after 12 games and much of the feel-good factor which was earned following solid recent performances and draws with the likes of Belgium and Portugal has evaporated.
Kenny has been fortunate to have been able to rely upon both the patience and understanding of supporters who are aware that he is trying to implement a new playing style and approach but at a certain point, results have got to follow.
With just five wins from his 24 games in charge of the national team, the manager and his team need to find a way to start putting wins on the board while he still has the backing of the Irish support.
Pressure hasn’t really come to bear on the Ireland manager yet but a defeat against Scotland at home on Saturday evening could change that, particularly when they face a Ukraine side who have already got the better of them on Tuesday.
Ireland are without a win in a competitive game on home soil in nearly three years, so now would the perfect time to get one.
Kenny remains confident that the results will come and denied that he’s feeling the heat.
"I don’t feel pressure, only internal, disappointed that we’ve not got points on the board and professional pride," he said. "Certainly I feel disappointed with that, that we don’t have points on the board."
CHANGES ARE COMING
A lack a creativity and confidence in front of goal has been on Ireland’s biggest problem in recent times as they struggle to find the right formula to break down defences and turn their opportunities into goals.
That Shane Duffy remains one of Ireland’s biggest goal threats is a problem but not one that can’t be solved.
Callum Robinson and Chiedozie Ogbene started up front in both defeats to Armenia and Ukraine with Troy Parrott and then Jason Knight completing the attacking trio in the separate games.
Knight was the standout performer, with a blistering first half on the left against Ukraine before fading slightly in the second half but his display will have given Kenny plenty to consider.
A more withdrawn role against Scotland, where he would slot into midfield could help to solve much of the creativity problems in the centre of the park and would also open up a slot up front for Michael Obafemi to get an overdue start.
The prospect of Obafemi leading the line in front of Robinson and Ogbene with Knight driving on from midfield is an enticing one and may be just what Ireland need to help unsettle and break down the Scottish defence.
Elsewhere Kenny’s hand will be forced with both captain Seamus Coleman, who missed the Ukraine game with a groin injury, and John Egan, who turned an ankle during the defeat at the Aviva, both ruled out.
Dara O’Shea is likely to partner Shane Duffy and Nathan Collins in defence while behind them. Kenny may be tempted to give Mark Travers a start in goal following on from the nature of the goal Caoimhin Kelleher conceded against Ukraine and his recent shakiness under crosses.
SCOTLAND PUT WORLD CUP DISAPPOINTMENT BEHIND THEM
The visitors barely had time to come to terms with their failure to qualify for the Qatar World Cup before they were thrust back into action.
A disappointingly limp performance against Ukraine in their World Cup qualifier play-off semi-final ended hopes of appearing at their first finals since 1998, but they bounced back immediately.
A comprehensive 2-0 victory at home to Armenia was the perfect response to their World Cup disappointment and now they travel to Dublin before ending their season with the return tie against Armenia.
Having made six changes for the Armenia game, Scotland manager Steve Clarke looks likely to name a stronger side with the likes of Scott McTominay, Billy Gilmour and Grant Hanley all likely to return to the starting line-up.
Veteran Rangers goalkeeper Robby McCrorie has been drafted into the squad, with Zander Clark and defender Liam Cooper both leaving the party to get married, while another goalkeeper, David Marshall, announced his international retirement after the Ukraine game.
Clarke is not taking anything for granted, despite Ireland’s poor start to the competition and warned his players that they’ll be in for a testing encounter.
"I expect a tough challenge, anyone going to Dublin to play can expect a tough game," he said.
"Obviously their last two games have gone against them but only by one goal. Previous to that, an eight-game run where they went unbeaten and within that eight-game run was Portugal and Belgium so we expect a tough game.
"They probably started the group with high expectations. It hasn’t worked out for them in the two games so far. They will be looking at the home game against Scotland and hoping to get a foothold in the group to make the games in September meaningful."
