Craig Levein is confident that the Carling Nations Cup will have the "integrity" to make it a worthwhile exercise.
The Scotland boss was in Dublin for the draw for the inaugural international tournament, which also includes the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and Wales.
In the first round of fixtures, which all take place in Dublin, the Republic of Ireland will play Wales on Tuesday, February 8 with Scotland playing Northern Ireland the next night.
Two more rounds of fixtures will take place after the end of the domestic season.
Neil Lennon was the first club boss to admit he would rather his Celtic players had the time off, although he stressed he would have no problem releasing them.
Levein knows he will have to battle against more scepticism nearer the time but the Scotland boss insists the games offer opportunities not afforded to him in run-of-the-mill friendlies.
"The very nature of the situation means there is never going to be perfect harmony," the former Hearts and Leicester manager said.
"There has to be the compromise and understanding that we work together and that is, at times, extremely difficult.
"I have been there as a club manager, I know how difficult it is.
"There is a chance I would have had a friendly in February anyway but this tournament will have integrity.
"It goes back to the idea of the Home Internationals which had a competitive element.
"This will be akin to a competitive match and that is important to me.
"I know England aren't in it but there will be quite a lot of interest in these games.
"I will looking to play my strongest team but if there are call-offs or injuries then there are players in the under-21s or in between the under-21s and the full team - what I call the Twilight Zone - who could get an opportunity.
"I could name a dozen players who I am desperate to see playing in a full international. So from my point of view, this is a good tournament."
Scotland play Wales on May 24, a day after the hosts play their neighbours, and finish the tournament on Friday, May 27 against the Republic of Ireland.
The Scotland boss was in Dublin for the draw for the inaugural international tournament, which also includes the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and Wales.
In the first round of fixtures, which all take place in Dublin, the Republic of Ireland will play Wales on Tuesday, February 8 with Scotland playing Northern Ireland the next night.
Two more rounds of fixtures will take place after the end of the domestic season.
Neil Lennon was the first club boss to admit he would rather his Celtic players had the time off, although he stressed he would have no problem releasing them.
Levein knows he will have to battle against more scepticism nearer the time but the Scotland boss insists the games offer opportunities not afforded to him in run-of-the-mill friendlies.
"The very nature of the situation means there is never going to be perfect harmony," the former Hearts and Leicester manager said.
"There has to be the compromise and understanding that we work together and that is, at times, extremely difficult.
"I have been there as a club manager, I know how difficult it is.
"There is a chance I would have had a friendly in February anyway but this tournament will have integrity.
"It goes back to the idea of the Home Internationals which had a competitive element.
"This will be akin to a competitive match and that is important to me.
"I know England aren't in it but there will be quite a lot of interest in these games.
"I will looking to play my strongest team but if there are call-offs or injuries then there are players in the under-21s or in between the under-21s and the full team - what I call the Twilight Zone - who could get an opportunity.
"I could name a dozen players who I am desperate to see playing in a full international. So from my point of view, this is a good tournament."
Scotland play Wales on May 24, a day after the hosts play their neighbours, and finish the tournament on Friday, May 27 against the Republic of Ireland.
LEVEIN BACKS NATIONS CUP
![LEVEIN BACKS NATIONS CUP]()
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