Steve Clarke has insisted his players will have to make their own history, as Billy Gilmour has been ruled out of the upcoming Denmark clash on Tuesday.
The Scots have ridden their luck at times in this Group C campaign.
Despite losing 3-2 away to Greece on Saturday night, the Danes’ shock 2-2 draw at home to Belarus handed Scotland's hopes for automatic qualification hopes a lifeline.
A win over Denmark at Hampden Park will see Clarke’s men top the group by leapfrogging their opponents.
Such a feat would clinch Scotland a place at the World Cup finals for the first time since 1998.
TRENDING
Stories
Videos
Your Say
Clarke said he does not want to rely on a play-off semi-final next March.
"There’s definitely work to do,” said the former Kilmarnock, Reading and West Brom boss, who confirmed Napoli midfielder Billy Gilmour has lost his race to be fit for the second match of the November double-header.
"We play the pot one team", he said as he discussed the prospect of missing out on the top spot.
"They’ll be hurting because they’ve missed an opportunity to win the group already."
Steve Clarke has insisted his players will have to make their own history
|PA
He added: "There's always another game. People can speculate and think that other bodies are looking after us, we have to look after ourselves.
"We always thought that when the draw was made, if we could get it down to the final game here at Hampden, that would be an achievement because we would then have had to finish above our seeding.
"We have done that. We were drawn as a pot three team, but we're already in second place.
"We want to go one step further and finish top of the group."
LATEST SPORT NEWS
Scotland's John McGinn (left) and Anthony Ralston during a training session at Hampden Park
|PA
Clarke expects his Danish opponents to be at their best, despite their improbable setback against Belarus at the weekend, where they would have secured their place at the finals with a win.
The former Scotland international said: “Their heads won’t be down because they also still have the opportunity to go through as group winners.
"So, they’ll come here determined to make amends for the slip-up the other night and we’re determined to make sure that it’s another difficult night for the Danes and a great night for us.
"The crowd are always important here. I touched on it briefly after the game in Greece."
Napoli midfielder Billy Gilmour has lost his race to be fit for the second match of the November double-header
|PA
He added: "We need the crowd with us. We need them.
"You probably need the crowd more in the difficult moments than you do in the easy moments when you’re on top of the game.
"So I think, if we all work together, we can make it a great night for the country.
"I’m pretty calm, considering the magnitude of the game and the occasion.
The Scots have ridden their luck at times in this Group C campaign
|PA
Clarke said: "I trust my players. I always trust my players. We’ve recovered well from the trip to Greece.
"The lads seem to be in pretty good spirits, because they know what’s in front of them and like I said before, this was always the scenario that we had in our head, that this could be the chance – a home game against Denmark – to qualify for a World Cup.
"So everyone’s in a good place."
Meanwhile, captain Andy Robertson is set to celebrate his 90th cap for Scotland, with the Liverpool star hoping to help the Tartan Army to their first World Cup finals since 1998.