Sydney Roosters coach Brian Smith doesn't fear a possible selection headache if Todd Carney shines in the No.7 jersey this weekend.

Carney has been shifted from fullback to halfback to replace injured playmaker Mitchell Pearce for Sunday's NRL clash against the Wests Tigers.

The former Canberra Raider is no stranger to a halves role, having played there all of his career, before switching to fullback this season.

And with former NSW and Australian fullback Anthony Minichiello slotting into the No.1 jersey from the wing, Smith acknowledged if the shuffle pays off, he is facing some tough decisions once Pearce recovers from his shoulder injury.

"They'll have a bit of fun with it until Pearcey comes back," Smith told reporters on Wednesday.

"He'll complicate it, he'll have a bit to say when he comes back I think.

"We want him (Carney) to go well and it might sound a bit absurd, but it'll be a nice headache to have."

The Tigers are struggling with injury concerns of their own for the match at Campbelltown Stadium, with regular hooker Robbie Farah also forced to shift into halfback for the match.

But Smith felt his own team's woes were not far removed from ones they've been suffering all season.

"We've been hurting all year pretty much injury-wise," Smith said.

"We've dealt with it okay and I think we're in a pretty good position to deal with this."

Smith also said his team was hurting from their 28-6 Anzac Day loss to St George-Illawarra and needed to use the lessons learnt from that match going into Sunday's trip west.

"I think we found out that we're not where we want to be," Smith said.

"We didn't miss by much and I thought our guys took it to them pretty well.

"Not quite good enough and that doesn't sit well with us, but I think we're pretty encouraged."

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