The 3 Key Issues To Watch In Scotland's Independence Debate Monday Night

The final televised debate before Scotland's independence referendum on Sept. 18 takes place Monday night.

Alex Salmond, leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) and head of the Yes Scotland campaign that supports independence, will go to head to head with Alistair Darling, leader of the Better Together campaign that opposes independence.

The 90-minute debate from Glasgow will run from 3-4:30 p.m. ET (8-8:30 BST). It will be broadcast on BBC Two in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and on BBC One in Scotland. It will also be broadcast live from Sky News.

Three issues are expected to shape the debate tonight: currency, oil reserves in the North Sea, and the National Health Service.

Salmond has argued that it's possible for Scotland to share the pound after independence, even though Britain's finance minister George Osborne has been clear that a currency union will not happen.

Even though experts disagree on how much oil is left in the North Sea, proponents of independence claim that this limited resource will continue to be able to pay for public services like schools, hospitals, and pensions, and support the new policies of an independent government.

Yes campaigners stand by this idea despite a warning last week from oil billionaire Sir Ian Wood who said Scottish government's White Paper on independence overestimated North Sea reserves by up to 60%.

Salmond is also expected to make the case that Scotland's national health service will fare better after a breakup.

The pressure is on for the SNP leader, who was viewed as delivering a lackluster performance in the first debate on Aug. 5.

This time around, the pro-independence leader is expected to focus on the negative consequences of voting No rather than promoting the benefits of voting Yes.

Salmond's negative strategy is in marked contrast to the first debate, when the first minister's longstanding adviser, executive coach Claire Howell, worked with him on presenting an upbeat, optimistic vision to voters and avoiding nationalistic, partisan rhetoric," The Guardian writes.