GLASGOW (AFP) - New Scotland manager George Burley insists the performance rather than the result will be the priority at home to Croatia on Wednesday after a series of late call-offs disrupted his plans.

The former Hearts and Southampton manager will take charge of the Scottish international team for the first time since taking over from Alex McLeish in January.

However seven players have pulled out of his squad, undermining his preparations.

Scotland skipper Barry Ferguson withdrew due to an ankle problem and he was joined by Rangers teammates Lee McCulloch (thigh), Christian Dailly (toe) and Allan McGregor (knee).

Celtic's Barry Robson pulled out with a knee injury, Stephen Pearson, of Derby, is out with a hernia and Birmingham's James McFadden is unavailable after undergoing keyhole surgery on a knee problem.

Burley, though, is looking forward to the match and, while believing Scotland can win, says the quality of his players' performance is more important ahead of the World Cup qualifying campaign which begins in September.

The Scotland boss said: "Croatia are an excellent side and qualified for the Euro 2008 finals and beat England on the way so we know it will be a tough game.

"It's one we're looking forward to as we're now building towards the next World Cup in 2010.

"We know it will be a tough game but hopefully we can get a good performance and if we do that we hope to get the right result.

"We're looking to win the game but for me the performance is the key. We've been training well, working on defensive and attacking options and we'll continue doing that.

"It's all about getting a feel for the squad and all working together so we're in good shape by September."

With a total of five Rangers and Celtic players withdrawing from the international squad ahead of an Old Firm game on Saturday, there will be conspiracy theories suggesting they have pulled out with that match in mind.

However, Burley refuted these accusations. He said: "All the players were desperate to play for their country and wanted to be involved in the game on Wednesday.

"They all reported to the squad but the medics had a good look at them and they were not fit to play. It's as simple as that."

Although Scotland have not qualified for a major finals since the World Cup in France in 1998 Burley believes they can make it to South Africa for the World Cup finals in 2010.

He said: "Scotland were unlucky not to reach the Euro 2008 finals and came very close to qualifying.

"There is a great spirit in the squad and if we play to the very best of our abilities we can qualify.

"Playing in the World Cup finals is one of the biggest things you can do as a footballer and it's where you get judged so our aim is to make it to South Africa."

Croatia - who are ranked 12th in the world, two places ahead of the Scots - will be looking to secure a confidence-boosting performance and result ahead of the Euro finals in Austria and Switzerland this summer.

However their manager Slaven Bilic expects a tough match.

He said: "We wanted to play an away game against very strong opponents to give us an idea of what shape we're in two months before the European Championships and you can't ask for better than Scotland.

"They're a quality team who were very close to qualifying for the finals from what was probably the strongest group along with our own. It's a friendly but it will be a competitive match."

Fixture (2000 GMT)

Scotland v Croatia