They are the young apprentices of the Steelform Wanganui team and their graduation will be after the Waiouru boot camp and battle with the NZ Army in Ohakune on Saturday.
With eight days until kick-off for their Heartland campaign against King Country at Cooks Gardens, coach Karl Hoskin put his new-look squad through a light training at their home ground yesterday evening before heading out to camp at Waiouru this morning.
After 14 weeks of the wider group being together, minus a two-week break for those with club play-offs duty, key on the agenda today is mini-unit training for the backs and forwards to establish their patterns ahead of Saturday's pre-season hit-out where all will get a run.
It is also the chance for the young bolters in the backline to press their claims going forward, with Hoskin eyes being to the future regarding some of the team's more eyebrow-raising selections.
He also has confidence in the depth available at first-five, where the absence of district departing NZ Heartland player and 2013 top points scorer Mark Davis is glaring.
Marton's Tauriki Manawatu was thought to be the prospect to fill those shoes, but an unhappy trial match against Wairarapa-Bush in July, coupled with injury and areas which needed work, saw Hoskin move in another direction.
While the door is never shut for Manawatu, Hoskin's faith to run the cutter falls to Kaierau's Areta Lama, who with 13 games has veteran status with so many debutants outside him, and Taihape newcomer Tom Wells.
"Mark's a blow, a quality player, but you have to move on," said Hoskin.
"Tom and Areta have very different styles, very different skill sets.
"I want to play my style and I'm very confident they can bring that."
Much was also made of Ruapehu fullback's Zyon Hekenui elevation ahead of Border's season MVP runner-up Fraser Middleton, although doubts faded when the 18-year-old backup goalkicker nailed the pressure 40m penalty to win the Premier title for Ruapehu last weekend.
"Everything that I've asked of him [he did], he trained hard right up into the finals," said Hoskin of the former Palmerston North Boy's High School first-five.
"We see him playing a big part in the future of Wanganui rugby in years to come.
"This team, they're not getting any younger. We need to bring [youth] in."
Hoskin said Hekenui was under the wing of Kaierau fullback Ace Malo, who with 47 games will take on so much responsibility for the backs.
"You couldn't get a better mentor if you tried."
A nod to the future is the same rational for the elevation of power Marton midfielder Soonalote Tauailoto, who along with Middleton was the contentious non-selection from the wider Wanganui training group earlier in the year.
However, injuries to Taihape's Tremaine Gilbert and Ruapehu's Tautahi Rawiri, coupled with a determined second round in club rugby saw Tauailoto improve for the door to open.
"He ticked all the boxes and he's only 20 another who will be around Wanganui rugby for a long time."
Heading for a tough campaign to regain the Meads Cup, Hoskin has no qualms about only working with two pre-season matches, done to give club rugby full rein of their players.
As Marist coach for five years, he knew what it was like to have players come and go, so his management group's fitness plans for 14 weeks had the squad where he wanted them to be.
"We actually got more done than what I planned for.
"The foundation is in place, it's just about tidying up the tails."
Kick-off in Ohakune is 2.30pm.