Defender Andy Robertson admits the high of Scotland's successful World Cup qualifying campaign has "kept me going" during a tough season at Liverpool.
The national side return to Hampden Park on Saturday for the first time since their epic win against Denmark secured their place at football's biggest tournament for the first time since 1998.
Robertson will become Scotland's joint-second most-capped player on 91 when he leads the side out at the National Stadium, leaving him 11 behind Sir Kenny Dalglish.
In contrast, the 32-year-old has played just three full games in the Premier League this season with Liverpool currently sitting fifth.
"It's kept me going at times this season, Scotland duty, you know, I can safely say that," said Robertson who is out of contract at Anfield in the summer.
"Especially at the start of the season when you've got it every three, four weeks. September, October, November, it was important for me, obviously playing in such big games.
"It gave you something to focus on, it gave you something to be a part of.
"I love coming away with the country, but, you know, when you've been playing lots of games at club level, sometimes your mind can wander and things like that.
"I know there's a chance to go and match Jim Leighton, which is something I could only have ever dreamed of.
"There was a period when I equalled Darren Fletcher then there's been a bit of a long slog to try and catch Jim."
The match will be Scotland's first against a non-European country since June 2018, before Steve Clarke was appointed head coach.
They also face Ivory Coast at Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium next Tuesday, with Robertson confident they will reap the benefits ahead of this summer's tournament in North America.
"Qualifying for the World Cup was a big achievement, but also you probably didn't understand the perks of it and the fact of being able to play these amazing countries," he added.
"These games don't usually happen. If I think back about how many caps I've got and how many would be teams from out of Europe, I could count on one hand.
"It'll give us a feel for how different continents play football as well, because it is sometimes very different.
"We're really looking forward to both games, obviously starting with being back at Hampden after a long wait.
"It'll be good preparation for us come the summer."
Meanwhile, Scotland boss Clarke revealed his team selection to face Japan at Hampden might "raise an eyebrow a little bit".
Teenage Kilmarnock attacker Findlay Curtis - who is on loan from Rangers - was a surprise first inclusion in the squad, while Wrexham centre-back Dominic Hyam and Middlesbrough striker Tommy Conway were recalled.
Other players such as Scott Bain, George Hirst, Andrew Irving and Ross McCrorie will be looking to make their mark and Clarke is ready to spring a surprise or two.
He said: "Every game with the national team should be an important game, so they're both important in terms of preparation for the summer, very important.
"To play games against two top quality teams from different continents, they'll bring their own challenge - the Japanese side in particular.
"A very interesting way of playing. I found them a really good team to watch in the preparation for the game, the way they play, the way they approach matches, so it will be tough game for us.
"We will look at one or two things that are different, maybe use one or two different personnel across the squad, but also to try to get positive results that we can continue to feel good about ourselves.
"Obviously, we have quite a number of players that are maybe coming back from a longer term injury or carrying a niggle at this stage in the season, so some of the selections might raise an eyebrow a little bit. But my job is to make sure that the players come out of these games fit and well, ready for the end of the season at their clubs and obviously to be ready for the summer."
Goalkeepers: Scott Bain (Falkirk), Angus Gunn (Nottingham Forest), Liam Kelly (Rangers).
Defenders: Grant Hanley (Hibernian), Jack Hendry (Al Etiffaq), Dom Hyam (Wrexham), Ross McCrorie (Bristol City), Scott McKenna (Dinamo Zagreb), Nathan Patterson (Everton), Anthony Ralston (Celtic), Andy Robertson (Liverpool), John Souttar (Rangers), Kieran Tierney (Celtic).
Midfielders: Ryan Christie (Bournemouth), Lewis Ferguson (Bologna), Billy Gilmour (Napoli), Andy Irving (Sparta Prague), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Kenny McLean (Norwich), Scott McTominay (Napoli), Lennon Miller (Udinese).
Forwards: Che Adams (Torino), Tommy Conway (Middlesbrough), Findlay Curtis (Kilmarnock), Lyndon Dykes (Charlton Athletic), George Hirst (Ipswich).
Scotland assistant coach Steven Naismith is feeling "very optimistic" about his country's chances of progressing beyond the group stages for the first time.
The 51-time capped forward, who played under Clarke before first joining his coaching staff in 2021, believes this current group of players can create even more history after ending the nation's 28-year wait for World Cup qualification.
"If I'm honest, if you looked at the teams involved and our squad and where it's at, before the draw even came out, I had a feeling that was our aim," he told Your Site News.
"The manager's been very big on this way back to when we narrowly missed out in the Ukraine play-off, that we can't not just get to the finals, we can definitely progress.
"The games are all going to be tough, the conditions are going to be tough, but that's the same for everybody.
"You're playing against a lot of different nations that you don't come up as much against. They'll be tough games, but I definitely feel we've got what it takes within the group to progress and be the first team to do that at the World Cup.
"What we've got is a squad of leaders who are at their prime, playing at big clubs to guide the potential younger guys in the squad as well.
"So we are very optimistic. It's going to be hard work, but we will definitely do all we can.
"This group have continuously excelled and made their own history. The next step, and what would be really nice for some of the guys, is to finish their career to be the ones that push through the group stage and into the knockout stages of a World Cup."
