Bilic is looking forward to Hampden test

The Scots will be without Rangers quartet Lee McCulloch, Christian Dailly, Allan McGregor and captain Barry Ferguson.

James McFadden, Barry Robson and Stephen Pearson have also dropped out.

"We're not facing a lesser test because they have enough quality players to play at the highest level," he said.

Interview: Croatia head coach Slaven Bilic

Bilic masterminded England's downfall in the Euro 2008 qualifiers and despite being down in numbers, he thinks the Scots will still be formidable opponents at Hampden.

We will approach the game as if it is a competitive game for points Croatia coach Slaven Bilic

"It is a big blow for any national side to lose seven players and that goes for Scotland as well," he added.

"The players that will play are maybe not the big names but they will be full of motivation.

"They have a new manager as well so it is going to be a very big test for us, and it's the reason why we chose to play Scotland.

"We obviously didn't choose [this fixture] because of the weather, we chose it because of the great national team that Scotland have and they proved it in the Euro qualifiers."

Croatia kick-off their Euro 2008 campaign against co-hosts Austria before facing Germany and Poland in Group B.

And Bilic knows he does not have much time to prepare for the tournament with just this week's friendly in Glasgow left for experimenting.

The only other pre-championship friendly being February's 3-0 defeat to Holland in Split.

"We will approach the game as if it is a competitive game for points," Bilic went on.

"It is a catch-22 situation for us. We only had two games before May, one was in February and this is our last game.

"On one hand you have to put out your best side because we haven't played together for a long period.

"On the other hand you have to use every opportunity to try something new so we have to find a balance."