Burley has not announced easy friendlies either. The Japanese, thousands of miles away from the home comforts of Hampden, would have provided a stern test in any normal challenge match - never mind with almost the full Scotland team missing.
They warmed up for this goal by handing out a six-goal hiding to China - a result unlikely to send shock waves through world football, but one that adds to every Scotsman's about the weekend ahead.
FORM GUIDE
Japan
Oct 8: Japan 6-0 China
Sep 9: Japan 4-3 Ghana
Sep 5: The Netherlands 3-0 Japan
Jun 17: Australia 2-1 Japan
Jun 10: Japan 1-1 Qatar
Scotland
Sep 9: Scotland 0-1 The Netherlands
Sep 5: Scotland 2-0 Macedonia
Aug 12: Norway 4-0 Scotland
Apr 1: Scotland 2-1 Iceland
Mar 28: The Netherlands 3-0 Scotland