Kangaroos forward Nathan Thompson says victory in tonight's NAB Cup semi-final at Carrara will prove the club can play the exciting brand of football needed to crack the potentially lucrative Gold Coast market.

"We're very happy to be here and make it win No. 2," Thompson said yesterday.

"Last year, we were one of the worst teams to watch in the competition. But have a look at our first few games this year. There are no shackles and Dean's (coach Dean Laidley) given the guys a real licence to run and play that sort of football and that's what we'll be doing all year. We want to play a style that helps us win up here and get the Gold Coast on board.

"We needed to change the style we play and there's no secret tricks to it."

The Kangaroos have named a strong line-up for the match, which will launch the winner into next week's pre-season grand final.

Midfielder Corey Jones, who had been struggling with an injured hip, has been included but the Kangaroos were forced to overlook ruckman/key forward David Hale and onballer Brady Rawlings because of hamstring problems.

Wingman Kasey Green, who played every game with the Kangaroos last season after playing in the 2005 grand final with West Coast, is another inclusion and is set for his first outing of the year.

Other additions to the Kangaroos side that beat Fremantle in Melbourne last Sunday are Aaron Edwards, Callum Urch and David Trotter.

The Kangaroos' semi-final opponent, Carlton, will play star Anthony Koutoufides in what is close to a full strength side.

Blues onballer Heath Scotland said the club also hoped to attract members on the Gold Coast before they returned to Carrara to play the Roos in round eight.

"Its exciting playing on Carrara," Scotland said.

"It's a testing time for us as a team, mainly for when we play up here later on in the year."

Scotland said momentum was the key to the team's current fortunes and that off-field woes were not an issue to the players.

"We want to keep the momentum we've got going and play good, exciting footy and the financial part will take care of itself," he said.

"We're here to play football and we've got young kids who have come out of under 18s and if we win this week it's a good way to build a structure into the season."

The Blues added ex-Brisbane Lions ruckman Dylan McLaren and youngsters Adam Hartlett, Shaun Grigg and Paul Bower to the side that beat Hawthorn in Launceston last Saturday night.

NAB Cup semi-final

Carlton v Kangaroos

7.10pm, Carrara
TV: Fox Sports1, Channel Seven (delayed). Radio: Triple M, 3AW, SEN, ABC
Umpires: Vozzo, Stevic, Grun, Chamberlain

Carlton: Walker (1), Jordan (2), Murphy (3), Gibbs (4), Kennedy (5), Simpson (6), Bentick (7), Whitnall (8), Saddington (9), McLaren (10), Ackland (11), Lappin (12), Fisher (14), Grigg (16), O’hAilpin (17), Bower (18), Betts (19), Hartlett (23), Stevens (24), Fevola (25), Cloke (28), Scotland (29), Waite (30), Thornton (32), Houlihan (33), Jackson (38), Koutoufi des (43), Carrazzo (44).

Kangaroos: McIntosh (1), Harris (4), Grant (6), Simpson (7), Wells (8), Sinclair (9), Archer (11), Thomas (12), Trotter (13), Urch (14), Green (15), Brown (16), Moran (18), Swallow (19), Petrie (20), Jones (21), Thompson (23), Firrito (24), Hansen (26), Edwards (27), Riggio (28), Harvey (29), Pratt (30), Sansbury (32), Watt (36), Gibson (38), Campbell (43), Whyman (44).