FOR most, the country of Albania remains a mysterious place.

The Communist pact with the Soviet Union and China meant few Westerners were allowed near until the early 1990s. But even now it is a difficult place to get a handle on.

Its most famous exports are probably Rudi Vata and Mother Teresa, one of whom was a saint, the other a nun (Vata had a short spell at St Johnstone in a wandering playing career that also took in a stint with Celtic).

Vata's time in Scotland aside, only the most dedicated football fan could talk expansively about Albanian football.

Not even Billy Stark, that most studious of football managers, could shed much light on the challenges that face his Scotland Under-21 side when they begin their qualifying campaign for Euro 2011 in the Albanian town of Elbasan tomorrow.

"The one thing we're guaranteed is a tough fixture," Stark said. "I'm not saying they are a world power, but going to Albania is never an easy trip.

"They've got a good home record, so we're expecting it tough. You never know with the information you get how relevant it is. The squad photo they released shows they are big boys.

"I've been able to research the composition of the squad through three things, the ones that took part in the last campaign who are still young enough, the ones coming up from the under-19s, and others who have been called in.

"I had an idea of the names I expected to be there and a lot are.

"They've called up a boy called Jahmir Hyka who plays with Mainz in Germany and is a full internationalist. That's an indication they're trying."

Stark, like his players, is visiting Albania for the first time, but he believes it is a more cosmopolitan, welcoming place than in the days when Danny McGrain almost had to shave his beard off to comply with draconian law ahead of Celtic's European Cup tie against Partizan Tirana in 1979.

"I remember that story in the paper," said Stark, "but Albania has moved on. There are a few pretty good hotels in Tirana and we're staying in one. The venue where the game will take place is about an hour-and-a-half from Tirana over mountains.

"Logistically, we've got to sort that out so we're not chasing our tail tomorrow. We don't want three hours by bus, so we'll train at a local venue. They're all things that are part of the excitement of the game."

After a sticky start, the previous batch of under-21 players came within a whisker of qualifying for the play-offs for this summer's Finals, and Stark is confident of going one step further from a group that includes Azerbaijan, Belarus, and Austria.

"You're always optimistic in any campaign," he said. "Why shouldn't we be? We don't know anything about anyone else to scare us.

"International squad get-togethers are about getting them to gel as quickly as possible and turn them into a unit, especially when it's their first competitive game.

"The difficult part with that is you have to see what the opposition are doing, so we have to try to prepare them mentally so they're ready."