He’s been labelled the messiah capable of finally leading Cronulla to the NRL’s promised land, but Sharks coach Shane Flanagan claims his side won’t rely on Todd Carney as much as Wests Tigers do on superstar five-eighth Benji Marshall.

Carney and Marshall go head to head in Sunday’s opening-round clash at Leichhardt Oval, the match marking Carney’s Sharks debut following his much-publicised axing by Sydney Roosters last year.

The former Dally M medal winner is seen as key to the Sharks’ finals hopes, with Flanagan finally having a playmaker capable of capitalising on the dominance of a forward pack considered among the best in the game.

But as much as Carney is seen at ‘the man’ for Cronulla, Flanagan dismissed talk the Sharks were a one-man side.

“That’s more a media thing – we don’t take that approach at all,” Flanagan told AAP.

“He’s just one of (the keys) in our team … we’ve haven’t gone ‘everything revolves around Todd’.

“Everyone’s got a job to do and Todd’s just our halfback like any other team – probably to less a degree than some other sides.

“Wests Tigers with Benji Marshall – he probably means more to them than Todd does to us at the moment in our structure.”

That structure remains a work in progress for the Sharks following a pre-season campaign that included a win over premiers Manly and last-minute loss to Newcastle.

Carney was a standout in both matches, but Flanagan believes it could be some time before he and his team-mates are all on the same page.

“We’re probably going to be better round two, three, four with our combinations,” Flanagan said.

“I’m sure it will get better during the year – I’m happy where it is at the moment. It’s not a major concern for me.”

The Tigers have no such worries with combinations, with Tim Moltzen making a seamless transition into the halves where he will share playmaking duties with Marshall and skipper Robbie Farah.

The hosts will have to be wary of a pair of old team-mates who will be on the prowl on Sunday with front rowers Bryce Gibbs and Andrew Fifita sure to be keen to prove a point after being shown the door by the Tigers at the end of last year.

Centre Chris Lawrence will make his 100th top-grade appearance as he attempts to put a wretched 2011 campaign behind him in which he managed to play just nine games due to a spate of injuries.