After missing last year’s final series, plus the start of the Group Nine season, the halfback will lead Southcity onto the field as their new captain-coach.

McCarthy has been plagued with injuries since being announced as Nick Skinner’s successor late last season.

He played no part in the finals after undergoing shoulder surgery and then missed round one after sustaining an ankle injury early in a trial game.

McCarthy couldn’t have picked a better game to return in.

Southcity are playing in a grand final rematch against Gundagai with the Bulls looking to end a poor run at Anzac Park on Sunday.

“It is good to finally get back on the field and even though we won last week it was hard to watch,” McCarthy said.

“I wanted to be out there and especially after missing the grand final it will be good to play Gundy and get back that game I missed.”

While Southcity didn’t lose any of the games he missed, the 29-year-old admitted it was hard watching on.

Especially in last year’s grand final as the Bulls triumphed 24-8 at Equex Centre.

“It was real tough,” McCarthy said.

“I had all the faith in the world in the boys and knew they would you get the job done, but to play 18 rounds last year and miss out on the two games you play for is pretty tough.”

Southcity are coming off a 40-point win over Temora while Gundagai suffered a 24-18 loss to Cootamundra in round one.

However McCarthy doesn’t believe form matters too much against their big rivals.

“We’ve had some good battles over the past seven or eight years,” he said.

“We haven’t beaten Gundy in Gundy for a long time so we are expecting a tough contest.

“It always is against them and they step up for us.

“It is going to be an epic game and once you get that premiership tag everyone steps up to beat you.”

Southcity have only won once in the last five years at Anzac Park, with their sole victory during the period a 18-10 win in 2014.

Gundagai will be without star second rower Cameron Woo, and potentially captain-coach James Smart, while the Bulls will go in virtually at full strength. 

Replacement forward Cameron Copeland is the only one missing from the line-up and the return of McCarthy will be an added boost.

Luke McBeath will also come off the bench after being unavailable for the 50-10 win over Temora.