Ferguson has played two full games for Rangers since returning from summer ankle surgery and Ibrox manager Walter Smith had expressed concern about him playing too much, too soon.

However, the 30-year-old will start at Hampden as Diego Maradona takes charge of Argentina for the first time.

Ferguson will also be playing under a new manager as he is yet to feature under national team coach George Burley.

The midfielder last played for his country a year ago when he scored in the last-gasp defeat by Italy that ended Scotland's Euro 2008 hopes.

He missed friendlies against Croatia and the Czech Republic last season because of ankle problems before going under the surgeon's knife in July.

Smith said last Tuesday that he felt Ferguson was not ready to play a full game. However, he lasted 90 minutes in the his first start of the season against Motherwell the following day and played another full game on Saturday against St Mirren.

Smith added last week: "We've got two games before the Scotland game and so he's ready to start a game for us. But whether he's ready to start against Argentina is another thing.

"It's up to George but it's natural that if someone has been out for five months, then they can't just come back and play a full 90 minutes, and then another 90 minutes and then another 90 minutes after that."

However, Burley is missing midfielders Darren Fletcher and James Morrison after both suffered knee injuries.

Goalkeeper Craig Gordon and strikers Kenny Miller, Ross McCormack and Steven Fletcher also pulled out the squad.

Burley saw all his players come through yesterday's training session unscathed though, with Dundee United midfielder Scott Robertson and Aberdeen striker Lee Miller joining the pool.