Poor fitness levels contributed to his non-selection last summer and Timu, 21, cut back on his Christmas food intake this week in an attempt to keep his levels up.
"I know a good Sevens campaign will give me a headstart when the 15s stuff starts," he said.
Timu has played at three Mount Maunganui tournaments and agreed this season's squad had an ideal mix of youth and experience.
Captain Adam Bradey and fellow Magpies squad members Gillies Kaka, Tivaini Fomai and Timu provide the experience.
A youth worker with Te Ora Hou in Camberley, Timu is a nephew of former All Black and New Zealand Sevens star Roger Randle, who is coaching the Waikato Sevens team.
"I had a gym session with Roger on Tuesday, but I made sure I stopped him from coming and spying on Hawke's Bay's training session on Wednesday," Timu quipped.
While Sevens is his main focus for now, he wants to do everything possible to gain regular Magpies game time later next year year.
The former New Zealand Secondary Schools representative still hopes to shed a couple of kilograms and increase his speed.
Without Timu, the Bay finished a disappointing seventh at last summer's nationals.
This summer's squad has enough experience, pace and size to suggest they can secure a top-four finish.
The Bay team also have an extra incentive to perform after the signing of a two-year sponsorship deal with the HBS Bank.
"With Sevens debuting at the Olympics in 2016 we believe it's a sport that will only continue to grow in popularity, both nationally and in the Hawke's Bay region, and one that we're very proud to support," HBS Bank manager Blair Cross said.
Bay coach Murdoch Paewai agreed his squad looked good on paper.
"Mount Maunganui on Monday will provide a more accurate gauge as to where we are at in the buildup to Queenstown," Paewai said. "We could have done with one more tournament before this one."
Paewai made a late change to his squad for Monday, with New Zealand Secondary Schools Sevens squad member Trinity Spooner replacing Bryn Uriarau.
"Bryn needs to play some more Sevens and his fitness was not quite where it should be," Paewai said.
Napier Boys' High School's Spooner is one of several secondary school players who have been invited to have a training session with New Zealand Sevens coach Gordon Tietjens next month.
The invitation to Spooner is yet another indication of the enormous potential he has.
Alongside Spooner, the Havelock North pair of Shannan Chase and Adam Blake provide the youth element of the Bay squad.
Chase and fellow Havelock player Ihaia West were the starts of the Global Sevens tournament played in Hastings back in October.
Hawke's Bay Sevens squad for Monday: Adam Bradey (captain), Adam Blake, Brad Nicol, Gillies Kaka, Ihaia West, Isaac Paewai, Junior Armstrong, Levi Armstrong, Matt Gordon, Michael Ruru, Shannan Chase, Star Timu, Tivaini Fomai, Trinity Spooner.