He wants to stay a Rabbitoh for the remainder of his career, but he knows that salary cap pressures at the Rabbitohs may prevent that from being the case.
Sutton, who is off contract at the end of the season, along with his fellow halves partner Chris Sandow, needs a good season to impress the Bunnies bosses, otherwise he might just be at a new club in 2012.
Sutton is also the longest serving back at the Bunnies, having made his first-grade debut in 2004.
“I’d love to stay at Souths, but the way things are with the cap these days it’s pretty hard to stay a one-club man,” Sutton told reporters on Wednesday.
For Sutton, he knows that a good season results in a good deal for him from 2012 and beyond.
“I’m not really worried about that, I know if I keep playing good football, things will go my way and that’s what I’m aiming for,” Sutton said.
He has also represented the City team, and will be ensuring that consistency becomes a staple of his game, something that he has lacked in previous seasons.
“I’ve been a little bit inconsistent over the last couple of years, so that’s probably been my downfall,” Sutton said.
“Hopefully I’m just playing consistent, good footy for Souths and hopefully get some luck.”
He is hoping that with enough consistency, he might just be a darkhorse for a position in the NSW halves, but he knows that he has other talented players in front of him.
“Definitely Todd Carney, seeing he was Dally M player of the year last year, he had a tremendous year, he’s probably going to get first look,” Sutton said.
Sutton does not feel any additional pressure this season, despite the Bunnies being regarded as a premiership contender this season.
“It’s pretty much the same as last year, we got talked up last year as well, but the only way you get to play finals footy is you win matches,” Sutton said.
“So hopefully we just win more matches than we lose and we get there.
“I’m probably feeling fitter and stronger than I have the last couple of years, seeing that I had that neck operation last year.
“I’m confident in what I can do out on the field and I’m just going to back myself.”
Sutton who is mainly a five-eighth, but can also play lock if need be, says that he would prefer to play in the five-eighth position, with Sandow expected to take on more of the play-making responsibilities.
“I reckon he (Sandow) is going to get probably more ball than he usually gets and hopefully take a bit off pressure off me,” Sutton said.