The Kangaroos will come up against former captain Wayne Carey sooner than anticipated next weekend in the semifinals of the AFL's pre-season Wizard Cup.

The Roos eliminated Melbourne with a 1.10.0.9 (78) to 1.8.0.8 (65) win to set up the ultimate grudge match in next weekend's semifinal against Adelaide at AAMI Stadium.

The Crows had said Carey would make his first competitive outing next week and the timing could not have been better against his former club and embittered teammates.

Carey famously quit the Kangaroos on the eve of the 2002 season after exposure of his affair with the wife of teammate and now Roos captain Anthony Stevens.

Carey was traded to Adelaide ahead of this season.

There was considerable bad blood between many senior Kangaroos and Carey, whose attempts to bury the hatchet in some meetings since, were cooly received.

Adelaide may yet delay the Carey comeback to take some heat out of next weekend's meeting.

The Roos, after brushing aside Essendon in the opening round, established a 30-point break over Melbourne early in the final term and then managed to hold off a Demons rally.

The Kangaroos got the early advantage via two goals from rover Brent Harvey and led by 11 points at the first change.

Kangaroos goalsneak Leigh Harding also jagged two goals in the first term, and went on with it in the second with another two majors to be the focus of a forward line missing the presence of full-forward Saverio Rocca.

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