"We've been working away in the heat since mid-January.
"We'd like to kick on from last year, we played some pretty good football and the guys are motivated."
That mindset will be tested by Taihape, who can call on speedster Jaye Flaws, representative first-five Tom Wells and accurate goalkicking fullback Luke Whale to punish indiscretions by the home team.
Morris is well aware how those indiscretions, and a lack of intensity, have made Pirates traditional slow starters which they compensate for by being one of the most dangerous at the back end of the season.
While there was genuine delight Pirates made the Premier final the expectation is to go one win further, especially from former-Kaierau imports who have now been runnersup at least three times.
"The squad's more settled than it's been for the last couple of years," said Morris.
"There's no lack of desire, with guys like Lasa Ulukuta fit, which he wasn't at the start of last year, and captain again, and Denning Tyrell [first-five] and Junior Tume up front, there's a lot of experience.
"The teams that get the early points send signals for the rest."
Kaierau coach Keith Savell likewise has unfinished business from 2013.
Finishing outside the top six, depleted resources coupled with injuries took their toll but Savell said they now have more depth at prop as well as the rest of the tight forwards.
It will be no easy first up assignment facing the champions, unbeaten last year and defending the Grand Hotel Challenge Shield.
"There's a few new faces. This week will be the yard stick of where we are for the rest of the season," said Savell.
"I think it does take a few weeks to sort out your No1 15, if you do have one, which comes down to who's in form."
While there has been some shifting in the engine room, the backline has very familiar ring to it with Heartland players Josh Edwards and Areta Lama back to run the cutter, along with veteran Ace Malo out wide and WRFU development officer Jordan Farrington.
As he is prone to do, championship-winning Ruapehu coach Chris Winter does not want his side to be held as the measuring stick, despite retaining virtually all of 16-17 players who earned Wanganui rep honours last year.
"We never see ourselves as that, will never, ever take games for granted.
"Kaierau will come out hard and that's good good for our boys, a wake up call."
Farm work and holiday's likewise mean the champions will be a little unsettled in the early matches, and while the knock on the veteran forward pack is that those players are beginning to show their age, Winter's points out there is a succession plan in place.
It does help having bolters in your Senior team who were the runnersup in the 2013 championship, behind only the unbeatable Hunterville.
"That's the good thing about our club, we have a balance of young and old with the B's squad.
"We all train together so you see when someone's got a niggle, there's someone who can slot in."
In the other games, Marton face Marist at home in what should be a good matchup, while Border travel to Taihape to play Utiku Old Boys.
