When Scotland meet the United States in Washington, the international team manager, Craig Brown, may not be able to field exactly the team which he hopes to field against Brazil in Paris.

However, he has admitted that he now knows the preferred 11 he wants to use in the opening game of the World Cup tournament.

The players are known to himself and his right-hand man Alex Miller, but there was a cautionary note in Brown's voice as he talked of the game against the world champions.

After training yesterday he named his team for today's game and Brown made four changes from the opener against Colombia - two of these forced upon him by injuries. The side will be: Leighton (Aberdeen), Calderwood (Spurs), Hendry (Blackburn), Boyd (Celtic), Dailly (Derby County), B McKinlay (Blackburn), Lambert (Celtic), Collins (Monaco), T McKinlay (Celtic), Gallacher (Blackburn), Jackson (Celtic).

''I know the 11 players I would want to play in the game against Brazil,'' said Brown, ''but we are always looking to improve. So it could yet be that there will be a personnel change before we meet the Brazilians. It may also be that I shall tinker with the formation if the opposition are doing something which requires us to change.

''However, I'm happy to stick by the strategy which has helped us qualify for two major finals in the last two years. What I am saying is that there are times when we might have to adapt and, as far as personnel is concerned, there is an opportunity for some players to impress us.''

Brown's major concern is to have the players peak for June 10. That is what he aims for as he works them in the searing heat of Washington, and he believes that experience gained will help him achieve his target.

He points out: ''It is important to have everyone hitting a peak at the same time, and that is when the tournament begins. Tomorrow we will be playing in heat but that is what we wanted to do because that will help us in France.

''We are keeping a careful eye on all the players in training, and so sometimes when we feel that someone has done enough, then we allow them to break a little earlier than the others. If some of them don't look as sharp then they do some extra work.

''That happened yesterday, for instance, and Alex Miller kept the strikers behind to do a little bit extra. That's the way we shall continue. Your eye tells you how players are. You rely on your eye and I don't think that has let us down so far.''

When asked about the form suddenly being shown by Norway, our second group opponents in Bordeaux, in their preparatory matches, Brown answered: ''They have had very good results and they are one of the form teams as they head for the finals, one of the form teams in the whole competition, in fact. However, it might be that they have peaked too soon - that can happen.

''We will continue to work in our normal way and there will be no change in the way we are preparing for this game against the United States tomorrow than there will be when we train for the Brazil match. It would be wrong to suddenly alter things.''

Two of the squad remain doubtful for the game, Gordon Durie, who will almost certainly be missing, and Craig Burley, whose calf strain may ease off enough to allow him to take part.

Most important for Brown, however, is that Kevin Gallacher has now made a full recovery and will be Scotland's main attacker.

Brown knows that the team, while they played so well against Colombia last weekend in New York, still missed the pace of the Blackburn man. ''We have looked at the tapes of the Colombian game and there were times when Kevin's pace would have paid off for us,'' said Brown. ''He might have been able to nick a goal for us. He is the form striker and one of the best scorers in England's Premiership.

''John Collins is OK, too, but as for Durie and Burley, we won't risk them unnecessarily. It would be wrong to do that.

''The United States are going to cause us some problems because they are using a 3-6-1 formation and it is a resourceful line-up.

''The six are not just strung across the park, there is a good bit of movement about them and they get people up in sport of their main striker. Their coach, Steve Sampson, has done a good job since taking over the team, and you have to remember that they were strong in the last World Cup when it was played over here. They have a better record than we do at the finals.

''This will be a test and we also have the heat and humidity to consider. We are told that the temperature could be in the 80s and, of course, we are kicking off at 1.30pm local time when it is going to be hot. That might mean that we will make use of our substitutes a little earlier than we did against Colombia.

''We can use five in the game and we might do that if any of the players feel uncomfortable.

''We would not want to head for the finals and that first game following a defeat from the USA. It would not be ideal but, we lost to Colombia in Florida two years ago and then went to Euro96 and drew with Holland, so it doesn't always affect confidence.''

There are three players competing for the one attacking spot in the USA team, Roy Wegerle, Eric Wynalda, and Brian McBride but Sampson admits that the midfield area is where the strength of his team lies.

''It is critical to shut down the opposition midfield and that is what we shall be attempting against the Scots,'' said the coach. ''I do not see this as a defensive formation because we get people forward quickly.''