Andrew Robertson ready for tough clash against the Republic of Ireland

Scotland defender Andrew Robertson is expecting an extremely tough battle when his side take on the Republic of Ireland in their Euro 2016 qualifier next week.

Gordon Strachan's men are currently third in Group D, two points ahead of Ireland, after Shaun Maloney's strike handed them a 1-0 victory in the earlier meeting between the sides.

Robertson has admitted that he and his teammates will have to be prepared for a full-blooded encounter to try to take a positive result from the match.

"I don't know what game will be the pivotal game. We just need to get as many points as we can and hopefully that's enough for us," Robertson told Sky Sports News.

"It will be a big game, don't get me wrong. The Tartan Army will travel in great numbers and I'm sure it will be a packed crowd over there, but it will be a great occasion to be involved in and all the boys are just buzzing for it. I don't expect anything different, it was more like a British cup tie that game. It was a great game to be involved in.

"Scotland fans turned out in their numbers at Parkhead, it was a sell-out, and they made some amount of noise. Hopefully they can do that again and get behind the team. But I don't expect anything different, it will be played in the same manner, but hopefully we are the team nicking it again."

The sides face off at the Aviva Stadium next Saturday.