Pressure? It's all on George.

Steven Pressley's assertion that Norway will be under pressure to get a result in their World Cup qualifying game against Scotland was only a standard pre-match statement designed to deflect attention from his own team. But not only was it the usual formulaic answer during another uninteresting press-conference, it also had no relation to the actual state of affairs three days before Scotland's assistant manager and his team face the Norwegians in Oslo.

The truth is that the pressure on Norway is minimal. Even a win against Scotland would still mean they are dependant on other results going their way in order to finish second behind Holland in Group Nine. And that is nothing compared to the plenitude of results in the other qualifying groups that also needs to go in Norway's favour if they are to become one of the eight best runner-ups to go on to the play-off stage. With three points after five games and not a home win in a competitive match for two years, the mood in Norway before Wednesday’s game is more in anticipation of seeing the final nail being hammered into the proverbial coffin for the team's World Cup hope, than even a glimmer of hope that it may be the start of a miraculous recovery.

Compare that situation with Scotland's predicament; a draw will almost guarantee them second place in the group but the team require at least seven, and preferably nine points, from their three last games. Due to face a superb Holland team in their last group game, nothing less than a win in Oslo would be a major blow to their World Cup hopes

The stark contrast also extends to the two coaches. Egil Olsen has nothing to prove to the Norwegian football public, having lead the team from international obscurity to consecutive World Cup's in the 1990s, his status as a football legend already cemented in the national conscience.

He's done reasonably well in his second stint at the helm since taking over as caretaker manager from Åge Hareide in January, but friendly wins over Germany and Finland was followed by a disappointing draw in Macedonia and a loss to Holland in the pre-summer qualifying matches. He might be handed a two-year extension until the Norwegian FA's preferred choice, Ståle Solbakken of FC Copenhagen, is available, but there will be no media speculation around his job leading up to the match, and no need for the experienced 67-year old to prove his capacity to fulfil the role.

George Burley is certainly not in such a comfortable position. He's been much criticised on several fronts after taking the Scotland job last year; for the mediocre results and performances of his team, his man-management of players such as Kris Boyd and the way he handled of the controversy around Barry Ferguson and Alan McGregor this spring.

Burley has yet to prove that he is capable of being a successful international manager and the Tartan Army reservations about him being the right man for the job have only become greater. Add to this the string of injury problems depleting his squad against Norway, and he finds himself in a very pressurised situation before the Wednesday's showdown in Oslo.

So while a draw will leave Scotland as the only with any chance of still qualifying for the World Cup, the result will arguably provide more disappointment among the Scots. The Norwegian fans, having become accustomed to disappointments over last few years, are only in danger of being positively surprised on Wednesday.