Zurab Khizanishvili was axed by Alex McLeish while with Rangers

Zurab Khizanishvili claims Alex McLeish makes mistakes under pressure and hopes that Georgia can unsettle the new Scotland manager at Hampden.

Blackburn defender Khizanishvili was axed from Rangers' first-team by McLeish while they were both at Ibrox.

"McLeish never likes his team to concede goals," he told Georgian TV station IMEDI ahead of Saturday's game.

"And, if we manage to get one, McLeish could lose his composure and, in that condition, he used to make mistakes."

Media conference: Georgia coach Klaus Topmoller

Interview: Georgia player Shota Arveladze

Khizanishvili's former Rangers team-mate, Shota Arveladze, had previously warned of the tough task facing his side in Saturday's Euro 2008 Group B qualifier.

And the striker insisted that McLeish had the qualities necessary to be a success at international level.

Georgia coach Klaus Toppmoller pointed out that players from his country had a good record against Scots during the Soviet era.

Scotland are not lucky to be top of the group Georgia coach Klaus Toppmoller

He made reference to the 2-2 draw between Scotland and the Soviet Union in the 1982 World Cup in Spain.

"I know that Scots and Georgians have played each other before - at the 1982 World Cup," said Toppmoller.

"Both goals were scored by Georgian footballers - Ramaz Shengelia and Alexander Chivadze.

"By the way, Chivadze will be watching from the stands.

"It will help us. That will be fun and it will be a great battle in Glasgow and a repeat of the score of 25 years ago will be wholly satisfactory for us."

Toppmoller praised Walter Smith for taking Scotland to the top of the section alongside France before leaving after four games, but admits he does not expect his successor to keep them there.

"Scotland are not lucky to be top of the group," he said.

"Walter Smith is a very good manager.

"They worked hard against France and Lithuania with great enthusiasm and heart and soul.

"They deserved to win those games and they were unlucky in Ukraine.

"Alex McLeish is a good manager as well and I'm sure Scotland will continue on the same way.

"But it would be a big surprise if Scotland continued to be top of the group with France."

Topmoller is hoping for a happier visit to Hampden than he had in 2002, when his Bayer Leverkusen side lost the Champions League final to Real Madrid.

And recent friendly victories have given his side renewed heart despite having lost three of their opening four qualifiers.

Schalke's defensive midfielder, Levan Kobiashvili, told the Lelo newspaper: "Looking at it impartially, Scotland are stronger and they have home advantage.

"But Georgia have shown and proven that they can play everywhere and, in our last two matches, we have beaten strong teams like Uruguay and Turkey."