TONIGHT is the beginning of payback time for Todd Carney.

Rugby league’s chook rumble on the Tablelands tonight – when the Atherton and Sydney Roosters meet – is repayment for Atherton hosting Carney last year.

And it is also the night Carney starts to repay the faith the Sydney NRL club has showed in signing him to a three-year deal, despite his 2008 axing by Canberra and de-registration from the league.

Pictures: Sydney Roosters v Atherton Roosters 

Carney is well aware of the toll and is "definitely nervous" ahead of tonight’s clash.

"It’ll be good actually. By the looks of things, the town’s pretty buzzed and the boys are really excited about coming up here," Carney said on arrival in Cairns from Sydney yesterday.

Pictures: Todd Carney in Cairns

"I’m sure that they’re going to get a fair crowd up there and it’s going to boost the (Atherton) Roosters’ name by playing against the Sydney Roosters."

The Roosters’ mantra of "New Attitude, New Beginning" suits Carney.

"It’s not so much about my bad year last year and the year before, but they had a bad year last year so we’ve got a new approach, a new beginning," he said of the Bondi club.

"The way we’ve trained, I’m really excited and I think the whole club’s excited.

"What Smithy (incoming coach Brian Smith) has brought in to the club is something special.

"I think we’re going to match it with and surprise a lot of teams this year.

"(I’m) definitely nervous, but I’ve fitted straight back into training.

"I’ve probably fitted back in better than I ever did in Canberra so I’m really looking forward to, not so much seeing if I can match it but probably do better than what I was when I was at Canberra."

That form will "progress" in the club’s next three trials and throughout the season, but Carney wants to show those that threw him a lifeline last year that he is already starting to repay their faith.

"Hopefully, I can show glimpses of it tomorrow night," he said.

Carney is set to line up at fullback – at least initially – but will also spend time in the halves.

"I’ll be playing a few quarters of fullback while I’m up here. I’ve been training really well there, I’ve just got to take it out on the field now so hopefully the (Atherton) boys will be kind with the kicks and I’ll be sweet," he said.

With former Blues representatives Braith Anasta and Mitchell Pearce getting first crack at No. 6 and No. 7, Carney is honoured by the vote of confidence Smith has made in him by trialing him at fullback ahead of former Kangaroos custodian Anthony Minichiello.

"You can’t take anything off Mini," Carney said.

"He’s had a few injuries in the last two seasons but I’m sure that he’ll be putting his best foot forward to play fullback."

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