HOPES of reaching Brazil have long gone, but former Huddersfield Town striker Jordan Rhodes insists there is still plenty to play for in Scotland’s World Cup qualifier against Croatia in Zagreb tonight.

For a start, the lower Gordon Strachan’s side finish in Group A – and they are currently bottom with just two points from six games – the lower their seeding will be in the bid to make the 2018 finals in Russia.

Click here to see a picture gallery of Jordan Rhodes time at Huddersfield Town.

And former Town ace Rhodes , whose form for Blackburn has brought reported interest from a string of Premier League clubs, is quick to recognise that no previous Scotland side have gone through a qualifying campaign without a win.

Meanwhile the Oldham-born 23-year-old, who aims to add to a 33-goal haul in 2012-13, is still chasing his first in a competitive international.

“We certainly don’t want to be a squad who goes down in history for all the wrong reasons,” said Rhodes, who blasted 87 goals in 148 games for Town before his £8m switch to Blackburn in August and has notched three in eight outings for Scotland, for who he qualifies through the five-year schooling rule.

“I haven’t scored in a competitive game but I’ll try my best if I’m selected tonight. I’ll give my all and I can’t say any more than that.

“But it doesn’t matter who scores. If I get one then I’ll be delighted, but if it’s an own goal or a scrappy one or anyone gets it then I’ll be happy for Scotland.”

If he gets the nod – and the unwillingness of Strachan’s predecessor Craig Levein to name Rhodes in his starting side did him few favours with the Tartan Army – the lethal frontman will be aiming to add to a seasonal haul of 33 (two for Town before his switch and two against them among his 28 for Blackburn and three for Scotland).

Seven of them came in the last nine games as Rovers, like Town, staved off relegation, and Rhodes has been working hard to maintain his focus and fitness since the final Championship game, a 1-1 draw at Birmingham, on May 4.

Holme Valley residents may have seen him running with brother Lewis, a former AFC Emley goalkeeper who now works as an analyst for Stoke City, with the pair spending time at the family home.

Golf, with his old Town and Ipswich teammate Alan Lee, and tennis have also been on the agenda, and Rhodes, who moved to Town from Portman Road in 2009, added: “For the majority of the year, you wake up, have your breakfast then train.

“So when that’s taken away, it’s a bit of a reality check. You kind of feel you might be eating food and thinking ‘I’m not really doing anything to burn this off’.

“You feel you have to do something. Naturally, in your head, you know you have to keep active. Your body feels like it needs to do something, so there’s been plenty of sports.”

Croatia go into the game on the same 16-points mark as group leaders Belgium, who face third-placed Serbia in Brussels tonight.

On a busy night of qualification action, the Republic of Ireland face the Faroe Islands in Dublin.

While Germany lead Group C, the Republic are alongside Austria and Sweden on three points.

Meanwhile England fans will be keeping a close eye on events in Podgorica.

Montenegro can put a big dent in Roy Hodgson’s hopes if they beat Ukraine.

That would put Branko Brnovic’s side five points clear of England at the top, although Hodgson’s side will have a match in hand and have a home clash against Montenegro in October.

The winners of the nine groups qualify automatically for the finals while the best eight runners-up will compete in two-legged play-offs to make up the continent’s 13-strong contingent.