Scotland manager George Burley hopes to have right-back Alan Hutton available for the crucial World Cup qualifier against the Netherlands.
The 24-year-old Tottenham defender has been sidelined since November after undergoing surgery on a foot fracture.
Hutton resumes training this week and he could be ready to face the Dutch in Amsterdam on 28 March.
Burley told BBC Scotland: "We'll keep our fingers crossed. He needs to start playing games - but it's encouraging."
Hutton, who signed for Spurs from Rangers for �9m in January 2008, has made six club appearances this term.
The defender's start to the season was delayed by the injury to his right foot and he aggravated the same problem after playing 90 minutes for Scotland in the friendly against Argentina on 19 November.
Should Hutton resume full fitness, he faces a test to reclaim a starting berth at Spurs.
Manager Harry Redknapp has preferred Vedran Corluka at right-back, while Pascal Chimbonda returned to White Hart Lane in January and Chris Gunter can also play in the same position.
The Scots are second in Group Nine with four points, five behind the Netherlands and the visitors are almost certain to be without Birmingham forward James McFadden, who is recovering from a knee injury.
Meanwhile, Burley has no concerns about referee Laurent Duhamel officiating against Holland - despite him being banned from top-flight matches in France.
Duhamel has been told to take a break from football by his own association before returning at lower league level after failing to send off two Paris St Germain players, who will now be punished retrospectively.
Scottish Football Association chief executive Gordon Smith has revealed he may consider asking Fifa for a different referee but Burley has no problem with Duhamel.
"The referee position will look after itself," he said.
"Fifa will decide who will be the referee and we can't influence it.
"I'm sure whoever is in charge will perform to the best of his ability. We are certainly not worrying about it."
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