League: Carney is the ace in the pack for NSW

Todd Carney has been in brilliant form this season and seems sure to test Queensland at Etihad Stadium tonight. Photo / Getty Images

He's the ace that has NSW believing they can finally end Queensland's State of Origin dominance but the Blues are adamant they won't expect debutant five-eighth Todd Carney to carry them to glory tonight.

NSW fans will hitch a ride on the Carney roller-coaster at Melbourne's Etihad Stadium - a ride with as many spills as it has seen thrills but with the potential to stop the Maroons in their tracks.

For the first time since the likes of Brad Fittler and Laurie Daley donned the sky blue No 6, the Blues have a genuine match-winner at five-eighth, a player capable of changing the course of a game with a few deft touches.

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Carney's contribution to making Cronulla NRL premiership contenders is proof of his ability, but conquering a Maroons machine containing some of the finest talent to play the game is another task altogether.

Especially for a player making his first appearance on league's biggest stage. "I think we've got a few potential match-winners, but definitely he [Carney] is one of them and he's showed that this year," said Blues hooker Robbie Farah.

"Todd's capable of winning footy games. It's his first game. He's going to be nervous. We're not going to expect him to go out there and win us the game. But we know if the game's on the line, Todd can produce something for us."

It's a luxury the Blues haven't enjoyed at five-eighth throughout Queensland's six-year domination.

The likes of Braith Anasta, Mark Gasnier, Greg Bird, Terry Campese, Trent Barrett, Jamie Lyon and Jamie Soward have all worn the No 6 jumper over the past six years - all good-quality footballers but none with all the play-making qualities of Carney.

"If we can get him some good ball and he's going at Queensland with any sort of speed, that's really going to ask their defence some questions."

Had things gone to plan, this would have been the script heading into last year's series opener.

But coming off a 2010 NRL season in which he was crowned player of the year, a career which had already reached the depths of being banished to park football was again spiralling out of control. Twelve months on and coach Ricky Stuart has the man he always wanted as the focal point of a game plan to take it to the Maroons.

"Toddy's a very talented player - we saw that two years ago," Stuart said. "He's got enormous skill but I'm not expecting Toddy to come out and win the game for us.

"It's not about any individual.

"It's not about Paul Gallen. It's about the people around Paul Gallen. It's about the people around Todd Carney." While his presence in the Blues line-up might not have Queensland shaking in their boots it may at least encourage the Maroons to ponder the end of Origin's greatest dynasty.

NSW

Melbourne, 10 tonight

Brett Stewart
Akuila Uate
Michael Jennings
Josh Morris
Jarryd Hayne
Todd Carney
Mitchell Pearce
Paul Gallen (c)
Robbie Farah
James Tamou
Luke Lewis
Glenn Stewart
Greg Bird
NSW: Ben Creagh, Trent Merrin, Tony Williams, Jamie Buhrer.

QLD

Billy Slater
Darius Boyd
Greg Inglis
Justin Hodges
Brent Tate
J. Thurston
Cooper Cronk
Matt Scott
Cameron Smith
Petero Civoniceva
Sam Thaiday
Nate Myles
Ashley Harrison
Queensland: Matt Gillett, Dave Shillington, Ben Hannant, Dave Taylor.

- AAP