Keen Carney links with Olyroos

David Carney can't wait for the Beijing Olympics after joining the Australian Olympic team in the Korea Republic for Thursday's final warm-up clash.

David Carney can't wait for the Beijing Olympics after joining the Australian Olympic team in the Korea Republic for Thursday's final warm-up clash.

The 24-year-old has spent the past two weeks in pre-season training with Football League Championship side Sheffield United and expressed his delight at being selected in the Olympic team.

"I think the Olympics is just a one-off, it's something I've always wanted to play in and 'Arnie' (coach Graham Arnold) asked me really early on if I wanted to play in it and I gave him my word," he said on Tuesday.

"It's a once in a lifetime chance to play in the Olympics and I'm just really looking forward to playing the Games, putting in my best and concentrate on going through (to the next stage)."

Carney is one of three overage players in the team and is hoping to bring his first-team experience and quality to the young players in the hopes of securing Australia's first ever medal in the sport.

"Obviously we are looking to get a medal ... just get through the group stage and then you never know," he said.

"I think we can get to the semis and we are definitely aiming for a medal."

Australia has been drawn alongside Ivory Coast, Serbia and defending Olympic champions Argentina.

Carney is happy to wear the underdog tag and said the team would take a no-holds-barred approach into the much-anticipated clash against Argentina.

"We would rather go into a tournament as underdogs anyway ... when you play like that, you always seem to play better," he said.

Carney revealed that he would be predominantly be used in an attacking position on the left, but he would move into defence should he be required there.

"I think Arnie will play a 4-3-3 (formation) so it'll be more of an attacking role ... I'd say either left midfield or up front on the left."

"But we'll see. If he needs me at left back then I'll go there. At the moment I'm looking forward to an attacking role which suits me better anyway."

Despite the recent threats of a terrorist attack in Beijing, Carney said he and his team-mates are not worried.

"The boys aren't really concerned about that, more concerned with winning games."

The Qantas Under 23s face Korea in a friendly on Thursday, with their first match of the Olympics tournament the following Thursday against Serbia.