Stekelenburg believes Scotland will provide a physical test

Holland keeper Maarten Stekelenburg may not know too much about Scotland but he is expecting a hard game when the teams meet on World Cup qualifying duty.

Scotland, who sit second behind the Dutch in Group 9, travel to Amsterdam on 28 March before hosting Iceland at Hampden on 1 April.

"I know the Scotland goalkeeper, Craig Gordon - you have to help me after that," said the Ajax number one.

"But the most important thing is the team, they are strong and physical."

With no friendly arranged for this week's international date, Scotland manager George Burley has gathered his squad together at St Andrews for a two-day training camp.

However, the freezing weather has forced the Scots to abandon Monday's scheduled programme, while up to eight players are hampered by injuries.

The last time Scotland visited Holland they were on the receiving end of a 6-0 mauling, with the Dutch avenging a 1-0 defeat at Hampden in the first leg of a play-off for Euro 2004.

Scotland play a lot of long balls. On the other hand, we try to play good football Maarten Stekelenburg

With Holland top of the section after three straight wins and Burley's side trailing five points behind, Scotland's task again appears daunting.

However, Stekelenburg, who has been the first choice keeper under Oranje manager Bert van Marwijk since the retirement of Manchester United number one Edwin van der Sar, refused to predict an easy home win.

"I was not in the Holland squad at that time but I remember the 6-0 game, I watched it at home on television," he said.

"I don't know (if the Dutch fans are expecting another easy win) but I don't.

"We will try to win and play as well as possible.

"We always look to ourselves, not our opponents, and we will see at the end of the game.

"Scotland play a lot of long balls. On the other hand, we try to play good football.

"It's two different nations' opinions about football so it should be an interesting game."

A large contingent of travelling fans are expected at the Amsterdam ArenA and Stekelenburg is looking forward to the occasion.

"Everyone over here knows that the Scottish supporters are fantastic," he added.

"It's always a great atmosphere when we have Scottish or English fans here and with around 8,000 Scots inside the stadium that night, the atmosphere will be fantastic."

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