It will be the second time the Magpies will lock horns with Horowhenua-Kapiti for the shield tonight. The maiden clash was in 1923 which the Magpies won 38-11.
Horowhenua-Kapiti have issued nine unsuccessful challenges to date. They were on the receiving end of an 85-0 don't-argue clash in 2013 to the Mooloo Men.
The visitors drew 6-6 with the Magpies but that was in a non-shield match in 1910. They lost 67-22 in Levin in their last encounter.
Second-year Magpie halfback Ellery Wilson, who replaces last week's captain Chris Eaton, hails from Levin so he will be up against some familiar faces tonight.
While the Magpies' coaching stable used previous seasons to tweak teams in pre-season hit outs to the ITM Cup that isn't so this winter.
"This year the month of July is different with the shield on the line," said Lee, satisfied they have picked the best stock with the absence of pedigree players fulfilling international duties.
While devoid of stars, he said the challengers would be a few steps above Wairarapa-Bush but they fell in the uncomfortable zone of "unknowns".
"It's also about us and getting our systems going."
Frankly, Lee felt the Magpies had some issues to address from the previous outing.
Their breakdown was poor and those who arrived at the coalface weren't accurate enough in their cleanouts thus disrupting the continuity in phases.
"The other thing was our general ball skills. We were inaccurate with our catch passes and made poor decisions on whether to go into space or not so we made it hard work for ourselves."
Lee said it was a win-win situation for him and Philpott considering the latter was dealing with the next crop of talent while he was stepping up to assume his mantle for a week. Joe Paton, who helps Philpott with the forwards, has stepped into that department seamlessly.
Lee lauded a youthful backline, especially Mason Emerson and Jonah Lowe, as well as pivot Tyrone Elkington-MacDonald on debut.
"Zac's a little rusty and he'll be the first to admit that," he said with a grin, adding ex-All Black Zac Guildford had guaranteed three tries before running out but had delivered two outstanding ones.
"So he owes me one," he said, delighted with how Guildford slotted in after a lengthy layoff.
Both teams
* HAWKE'S BAY:
Zac Guildford, Mason Emerson, Jonah Lowe, Billy Ropiha, Shannan Chase, Tyrone Elkington-MacDonald, Ellery Wilson, Joseph Penitito, Brendon O'Connor (c), Tony Lamborn, Sanaila Waqa, Trent Boswell-Wakefield, Jarvy Aoake, Ricky Riccitelli, Jason Long.
Substitutes, forwards: Jorian Tangaere, Mason Kean, Mark Braidwood, Everard Reid, Tom Stanley. Backs: Chris Eaton, J'ndre Liebenberg, Lewis Marshall.
* HOROWHENUA-KAPITI:
Michael Tambour, Teegan Minkley, Perry Hayman, Luke Harvey, David Thompson, Hamish Buick, Rawiri Broughton, Sam Gardner, Antony Fox (c), Aaron Lahmert, Tainui Woodmass, Sonny Woodmass, Ha'amea Ahio, David McErlean, Kurt Jackson.
Substitutes, forwards: Jesse Halls, Aaron Kearney, James Tennant, Jock Shaw, Scott Cameron. Backs: Michael Papps, Jamie Hinds, Alex Brunskill.
