George Burley revealed his eagerness to retain the spirit among the Scotland squad after bringing in just two players for his first match in charge.
The new Scotland boss has called up the uncapped Steven Fletcher and Christophe Berra for the Hampden Park friendly against Croatia on March 26.
Rangers defender David Weir, 37, has been rested but Burley stressed that was a "one-off" because of his age.
West Brom striker Craig Beattie, who is out for the season with a hamstring injury, is the only other player to drop out from Alex McLeish's final squad against Italy in November.
Sunderland defender Russell Anderson has won a recall after returning from a long lay-off while on loan at Plymouth.
Burley said: "When you look at it, the spirit and will to win is very important.
"So I haven't made too many changes, I added two young players which I felt was good to freshen things up.
"But they have got that passion about the squad. It's a case of keeping it together, trying to look at one or two younger players, but keep moving things forward without breaking it up."
Defender Berra, 23, who played under Burley at Hearts, pulled out through injury in his only other call-up, for the friendly against South Africa in August.
"I have seen Christophe a number of times in the last month - he is a young player developing," the former Ipswich boss said.
"He is playing regularly for Hearts, he has been captain for the last two or three seasons, he has a lot of good attributes."
Hibernian midfielder Fletcher is expected to make his debut against Croatia on the day he turns 21 after being taken from the Under-21 squad, who have a UEFA qualifier against Finland hours earlier.
Burley said: "Steven is one of the leading goalscorers in the SPL - he has got talent. He is a player I have admired for a long time.
"It's too early to say how good he can be but he has certainly shown this season that he is a top SPL player."
Burley admitted he had been hunting high and low for players for future squads - but has been loath to break up the squad that pushed World Cup finalists Italy and France all the way in the Euro 2008 qualifiers.
And he assured Weir his omission was merely a rest amid Rangers' punishing schedule.
Burley said: "I certainly haven't ruled him out for the World Cup qualifiers.
"At his age he is not going to play forever but he has done terrifically well for Rangers and Scotland of late.
"I think with a friendly game we can give him a little break and look at other players."
Burley opened the way for more newcomers for a friendly date in May when the Old Firm are expected to be on tour.
He has been linked with interest in Sunderland full-back Phil Bardsley, whose father was born in Glasgow, and Barnsley skipper Brian Howard, who represented England at under-16 level but has a Scottish father.
The former Scotland defender said: "Brian Howard doesn't qualify for Scotland and Phil Bardsley is one that might be available but I have wanted to keep the same squad together.
"There might be opportunities for other players, especially in May. I have been to loads of games, as have my scouts and assistants, and it will keep on going.
"You are trying to leave no stone unturned but I feel that Scotland's strength in the last campaign is the togetherness and the great spirit among the lads.
"I think that's the Scottish nation - they want to work hard for each other. We are going to come against teams like maybe Croatia where individually they have some world-class players but it's all about being a team and that's what we have got to keep working at."
Scotland squad to play Croatia at Hampden Park, March 26: Gordon (Sunderland), Marshall (Norwich), McGregor (Rangers), Alexander (Burnley), Anderson (Sunderland), Berra (Hearts), Caldwell (Celtic), Dailly (Rangers), Hutton (Tottenham), James McEveley (Derby), Stephen McManus (Celtic), Gary Naysmith (Sheffield United), Scott Brown (Celtic), Barry Ferguson (Rangers), Darren Fletcher (Manchester United), Paul Hartley (Celtic), Lee McCulloch (Rangers), Stephen Pearson (Derby), Barry Robson (Celtic), Gary Teale (Derby), Kris Boyd (Rangers), Steven Fletcher (Hibernian), James McFadden (Birmingham), Shaun Maloney (Aston Villa), Kenny Miller (Derby), Garry O'Connor (Birmingham).
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