STEVEN NAISMITH has compared the going for Euro glory with Scotland to battling at Rangers with Old Firm rivals Celtic for a league title.

The Scots are currently embroiled in a four-way tug of way for qualification for France next year with world champions Germany, Poland and the Republic of Ireland.

Currently five points separate the quartet in Group D but following tomorrow night’s fixtures that gap could be cut to as little as just three with three games left to play.

It is the closest Scotland has come to automatic qualification for a tournament since they reached their last main competition back in 1998.

And Naismith, who spent five years at Ibrox where he won three Scottish Premier Leagues before moving to Everton in 2012, has likened the current pressure and emotional rollercoaster to that he experienced when starring at Ibrox.

He said: “This part of the campaign is probably like the last quarter of a season when you're at Rangers or Celtic and you're fighting for the league.

“There is so much riding on the games. That's probably what the players who've been in that situation will think about.

"That's the most similar situation I could compare it to. You've worked so hard, you've got the points, now it's this last bit where things are won and lost.

“The squad is at a mature age. We have some younger guys but the majority are mid to late 20s. That's an age where you should be taking more responsibility and I think we do that.”

As already alluded to, events tomorrow night will go a long way to determining how Scotland are placed when the group draws to a close next month.

While Scotland are away in Georgia, Republic of Ireland travel to whipping boys Gibraltar and section leaders Poland host Germany, a side they have already beaten this campaign.

The importance of results elsewhere will obviously have an impact on not just Gordon Strachan’s team but how the world champions will surely prepare for visiting Hampden on Monday night.

But Naismith has dismissed any suggestion the dark blue camp are allowing themselves to have a look at what is going on elsewhere.

"That's got no relevance to us,” said the Everton man.

“We need to think about Georgia first. If we win, that's another hurdle we're over. Then we go into Germany, which is the glory tie for everybody.

“I remember playing Spain and Holland at Hampden. The atmosphere is electric and we came so close to a win on those nights without getting anything.

“This is another one of them. You can't take your eye off what's in front of you.”