Might Scotland throw midfield curveball at Haiti?

For 114 years, the iconic Fenway Park has hosted some of the greats of baseball.

Set just a handful of blocks back from the Charles River, the likes of a fledgling Babe Ruth, the formidable Ted Williams and legendary pitcher Cy Young all made their mark at Fenway, an antique cathedral of sporting greatness.

But in the outskirts of Boston on Saturday, it could be Steve Clarke who is about to hurl one almighty curveball that even Babe Ruth would struggle to read.

So much of this week has been about the journey. Fans criss-crossing the globe to get here. Partying. Celebrating. Uniting as a nation.

But there is a colossal decision to be made that will play a huge part in keeping that party in full swing.

Scotland have three games but not three strikes. So much pressure is being heaped upon winning the opener with Haiti at Boston Stadium on Sunday (02:00 BST), and that requires getting the team right.

It's widely accepted Clarke will go with a 4-4-2, which he has rarely used but worked so well in the 4-0 warm-up win over Bolivia last week. But that was a game where John McGinn sat on the bench.

Factoring in Scott McTominay's stomach bug this week, could Clarke leave one of his leading men on the sidelines for the biggest game the nation has seen in almost three decades?

McTominay now a dead cert?

The McTominay question is perhaps not as prominent as it appeared on Thursday.

In early evening in Boston, word filtered back that the Scotland team had arrived off the bus at their hotel without Napoli's star man. He had been absent in training earlier and had travelled with a doctor separately as a precaution.

But, after the midfielder re-emerged at training on Friday, head coach Clarke described him as "perfect" and "ready to go".

Captain Andy Robertson jested his team-mate was just seeking attention, not that he'd be short of it. He is the football poster boy of Naples and his image painted on to the side of a building in the shadows of Hampden Park.

There is a sense an even 60% McTominay would start this one, given the need for leadership and, more importantly, a result.

"We are delighted with Scott's abilities and what he can bring to the team," said Clarke, before diplomatically adding: "But we are going to need another 15 to bring the same if we want to have a positive tournament."

Is McGinn favourite to drop out?

Going back to that game in New Jersey last week, Aston Villa captain and Tartan Army sweetheart John McGinn was the one to start on the bench.

He was also left out completely for the win against Curacao at Hampden.

McGinn not playing would seem incredible given his contribution in a Scotland jersey.