However, some clubs have the services of lower-grade players in their mix for the 2014-15 season.
Today defending English-style format champions CHB face Havelock North CC, Complete Flooring Napier Technical Old Boys (NTOB) host Heretaunga Building Society Cornwall CC while The Station Napier Old Boys' Marist (NOBM) welcome Sharpies Golfing Range Taradale CC.
Tomorrow, the Scott Schaw-captained CHB face Karori CC and Taradale lock horns with Onslow CC at the same venue in the HB v Wellington semifinals of the annual Sports Twenty20 tournament which was postponed three weeks ago after rain interrupted the playoffs.
"It gives us confidence and that's what it's all about," says CHB coach Colin Schaw of the HBCA T20 tourney's role in working as a preamble for the club season.
"It's got to be a selfish game if you want to win," Schaw says, adding that the club's ambition is to produce players who will go on to represent the Pay Excellence Payroll Hawke's Bay senior men's representative team in their Chapple/Hawke Cup campaigns.
CHB have no imports this year (Will Chapples of England was here last season), but have inherited the Smedley Station pair of Jack Wakeling and George McPherson.
Schaw says CHB is buzzing, with the community behind the club and the Ravensdown sponsorship of junior cricket.
Overall champions NTOB are smarting, with captain George Diack itching to add the 55-over title to their tally, although the T20 crown remains elusive, too.
"Our team starts slow but we don't play to lose," says Diack of NTOB, who have lost prolific run-scorer Morten Freer but gained fast bowler Jeremy Kuru.
They have also lost Ruan Markram to Havelock, where he is with mate Graeme Tryon.
"We tried to keep him but if he wants to go somewhere else then he should go for his life," says Diack, revealing Tech is the youngest he's seen in his career with the prem club.
Traditional powerhouses Cornwall look anaemic with the loss of Smith brothers Jacob and Jarrod, as well as Seb Langridge and Ben Jackett, who have all gravitated to Auckland for work.
Club captain Graeme Hodges says Liam Dudding is at Peter Siddle's club in Melbourne.
"There's a lack of employment opportunities here," Hodges said ahead of Charley Crasborn leading the Hastings club out today.
Hodges and Nathan Waites are the senior players to help build around Crasborn, Jono Hall and JC Jowsey.
Havelock North coach and ex-international Derek Stirling says the villagers have inherited "the cream of Hastings Boys' and Lindisfarne players" but Hodges disputed that.
"Havelock started training quite early so HBHS boys trained with them but ours have returned," says Hodges, adding they are saluting ex-club director of cricket David Black who has retired and helps run the pavilion.
"We are running things a little differently now but Blackie's done heaps for the club and deserves more time with his family."
It is a great opportunity, Hodges feels, for the youngsters to put their hand up this summer.
"They were batting at No 8 last summer but they can have a crack at No 4 or 5 this time and make it work."
Stirling, in his debut as prem coach after helping juniors for several years, says veteran Todd Astill has retired.
"The club is in a rebuilding phase both on and off the field," he says, happy to retain a core of experienced players under Jared Priest's leadership with Tryon and Markram as "outstanding prospects".
"The most pleasing thing is that the cream of the crop of Hastings Boys' first XI and Lindisfarne College are coming to us."
Thirds Marewa CC allrounder Casey Rangi, who coached his club to the T20 tourney on invitation, will play for Havelock prems.
"Rangi is in the Bay men's wider training squad and wants to play at the top level," says Stirling, alluding to the Rangi family's allround talent in sport.
Rangi coaches Marewa but the thirds' season doesn't start until next month so Havelock are hopeful he will remain as their coach and play for the villagers.
Taradale captain Luke Kenworthy will have the services of CD pair Kieran Noema-Barnett and Ajaz Patel but youngster Jeremy Stoyanoff, of Napier Boys' High School, will add some firepower with brother Ben.
"We should have a good team that's competitive," says Kenworthy who has a top-three goal. "We were fourth last summer, missing out on the semifinals of the one-dayers."
He's excited about tomorrow's T20 playoffs, their third in a row with hopes of winning their maiden title.
NOBM and Bay rep coach Mathew Sinclair says they've recruited well, although fellow ex-international Llorne Howell is likely to take over the coaching reins as Chapple Cup (CD interdistrict one-day tourney) kicks in next weekend.
"We have a few Indians as well," Sinclair says.
He adds that their injection lifts the intensity as they are keen to learn.
"As a squad, we haven't changed a heck of a lot," he says with the notable additions of EIT student Anoop Renuka-Prajad and the return of former St John's head boy Damien Scott from university.
"Anoop sounded out a lot of clubs but then headed up to us," he says of NOBM, who will have "respected club man" Bevin Pollock as captain this summer.
