There was optimism in the air as the new-look Kangaroos gathered for the first on Thursday ahead of the upcoming Four Nations rugby league tournament.

With a host of regular faces unavailable due to injury, coach Tim Sheens has been handed a squad featuring 10 players who weren't part of the group which went away for last year's end of season tour, including six who are yet to make their Test debut.

While the injection of fresh blood may have been out of necessity rather than design, uncapped playmaker Todd Carney admitted there was a sense of excitement amongst the new breed hoping to cement their place in the green and gold.

"There's a few new players, a few new faces," Carney said.

"Hopefully this group will stay together - it would be pretty disappointing if we didn't because that means we didn't go well."

With Carney involved, the chances of a poor campaign are remote given just about everything he has touched in 2010 has turned to gold.

Just a year after winding up his one year banishment to park football in far north Queensland, the 24-year-old Dally M Medal winner is now on the verge of completing a remarkable rise to Test footballer.

But for all the obstacles he has jumped to get this far after overcoming a history blighted by alcohol-related indiscretions, Carney knows he still has a rather large hurdle standing in his path to Test selection - Australian five-eighth and skipper Darren Lockyer.

"I'll just do my part in training, go as hard as I can and if they need me to play I'm ready to go - just being here training is enough for me but if the opportunity comes I'll take it," Carney said.

"I always had a goal to be in this position but for it to happen so quick, I'm still pinching myself as a lot of other people are."

With Melbourne's Cooper Cronk favoured to get the No.7 jumper given Johnathan Thurston is unavailable, Carney is likely to battle it out with Kurt Gidley for the bench utility spot.

Other spots wide open are in the centres and the remaining berths on the bench.

None of the centres that went away on last year's tour - Greg Inglis, Justin Hodges, Josh Morris or Michael Jennings - are available, while Jamie Lyon, who played in the May Test against New Zealand, is also out with injury.

That's left the likes of recalled duo Brent Tate and Willie Tonga to battle it out with Wests Tigers youngster Chris Lawrence for the two centre spots, though Sheens hasn't ruled out using either Jarryd Hayne or Darius Boyd in the centres.

"There's obviously been a lot of injuries in the centre department so if I get that opportunity I'll take it with both hands," Lawrence said.

"It would be great if I got that opportunity to play with all those great players."

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP