If Wanganui make a final in 2017, the 34-year-old Baldwin could become the first man to play 100 Heartland Championship games alone, as well as his five Ranfurly Shield appearances.
"Guys like Cole, and Wanganui's been lucky to have them, they're the backbone of the team," said Hamlin.
"He knows what he wants and he's pretty direct in telling people about it. He's more than paid his dues, it's a honour well deserved."
Other players are also being rewarded, as Samu Kubunavanua, Cody Hemi and Nick Harding all return from the RDO Shield-winning Wanganui Development XV, along with young lock Cade Robinson, who has been promoted, and 2015 prop Kamipeli Latu - straight back in after nearly two years in England.
"Cade looks like he fits the bill for us - a blindside/lock combination, a strong ball carrier," said Hamlin.
Kubunavanua starts for the injured Simon Dibben, while Latu joins the bench as Gabriel Hakaraia steps up to the starting XV for the first time with Hamish Mellow being rested.
Dane Whale and Bruno Tuivai also step aside this week.
"[Kubunavanua]'s gone away and done all we've asked of him," said Hamlin.
"Cody just gives us a bit more flexibility, can cover the outside backs."
After 20 minutes off the bench for the Development XV, Harding will finally get his chance to rejoin Heartland rugby after being the top scorer in club rugby for two years, only to have his hamstring keep conspiring against him come the representative campaigns.
"Leading up to the Saracens [pre-season] game, he did the training camp and was just half jogging and re-tweaked it a bit," said Hamlin.
"Now is the first time he's felt confident on it. He needs the opportunity."
The continued absence of Fraser Hammond gives blindside flanker Tremaine Gilbert another chance to prove he deserves to be a key man in the pack.
Now sitting eighth on a very compacted table with their 2-2 record, Mid-Canterbury were in ominous form when they thrashed Wairarapa Bush in Masterton 60-24 last Saturday.
Joint leading Heartland try-scorer Wanganui second five Timoci Seruwalu will match up against the other joint leader, Maleli Sau. Both have five tries.
Mid-Canterbury's 2002 All Black Regan King scored a double last weekend, with the 36-year-old having come back to New Zealand after 13 years playing in Wales and France, which included in 2006 being named the best centre in the world by readers of Planet-Rugby.com.
He joined the Southern club and helped them to the local Watters Cup title in July, and Hamlin acknowledges that, while some of the pace may have gone, the veteran's sharp guile remains.
Currently second on the table, Wanganui know the loss last week after patchy wins before it means the team have used up their lifelines as another loss could cost them a Meads Cup berth, let alone a home playoff.
"We're probably lucky, really, the other games went the way they did. Destiny's still in our hands.
"From our first game, when we were able to run amok and do whatever we wanted, we've struggled on attack.
"Everyone's pretty crystal clear on what we want to do. We've got our defence and have to get our mojo back on attack."
The team had an early 8am departure to Palmerston North to fly to Christchurch airport this morning, before an hour bus ride to Ashburton.
The potential Wanganui team is:
1. Gabriel Hakaraia ; 2. Cole Baldwin (c); 3. Viki Tofa; 4. Sam Madams; 5. Sokonaia Kalou; 6. Tremaine Gilbert; 7. Jamie Hughes; 8. Bryn Hudson; 9. Lindsay Horrocks; 10. Craig Clare; 11. Cameron Crowley; 12. Timoci Seruwalu; 13. Kaveni Dabenaise; 14. Samu Kubunavanu; 15. Jona Sawailau.
Reserves - Forwards: 16. Roman Tutauha; 17. Kamipeli Latu; 18. Cade Robinson; 19. Angus Middleton. Backs: 20. Tom Stewart; 21. Cody Hemi; 22. Nick Harding.