He stood on Adelaide Oval welcoming New Zealand's cricketers before a 2002 one-day international - and snuck a peak at Australia's team.

He saw Steve Waugh, and his brother Mark. Shane Warne. Adam Gilchrist. Ricky Ponting and Glenn McGrath, among others.

"I looked across and saw the Australian players and hoped one day that was me," Carey said.

Now, Carey is a proverbial flag-bearer for Australia as it's one-day vice-captain.

And the proud South Australian is about to step onto Adelaide Oval in his national colours for the first time.

"I'm really excited," Carey said ahead of Friday's one-dayer against South Africa in Adelaide.

"Having family and friends there, putting on the green and gold - it's a bit of a dream really ... it's going to be a great feeling."

Friday's fixture will be just the fifth one-day international for the clean-cut Carey, who was born in Loxton in South Australia's Riverland region.

The wicketkeeper-batsman was one of few Australians to emerge with an enhanced reputation after last Sunday's series opener against the Proteas in Perth.

The Aussies were crushed by six wickets after being bowled out for 152.

Carey, batting at No.5, came in with Australia in tatters at 3-8 in the sixth over.

The 27-year-old left-hander, as wickets tumbled around him, made 33 before being dismissed in the 32nd over.

"It was a tough situation to go in," he said.

"For me, it was to weather some pressure. And obviously I would have liked to have batted a bit deeper than I did.

"But I felt quite confident going out and playing against that attack."

Australian Associated Press