"Once we started the season, [the centennial] was mentioned a couple of times.
"Now we're here. All the boys are excited."
Hamlin hopes to name a settled lineup to the side that disposed of Utiku Old Boys last weekend, with one possible change being leading points scorer Mitchell Millar coming back in at fullback for his first game since May 6, when he was concussed against PGG Wrightson/Balance Taihape.
The 2010 representative halfback Matt Koubaridis would come into the starting lineup at halfback, keeping Sean Brown at first-five inside Steelie Koro, who is nursing a slight injury but very eager to be part of the festivities.
A reshuffle at lock would allow Taione Ratu to move back to No8 so the 2016 MVP Ryan Gill can return to openside flanker.
Marist currently have perhaps the strongest bench depth in Premier, matched only by competition leaders Waverley Harvesting Border, who have had more injuries to deal with.
Hamlin agreed this was proving by far the most important aspect for the five team's currently neck-and-neck for the Top 4.
"It's not even the [match day] 22 anymore, it's the crew behind it. The next 4-5 guys.
"It's what's need if you want to be serious about it."
While his side picked up a comfortable 48-17 win at the Country Club in the first round, Hamlin is taking nothing for granted when it comes to their neighbours up the road.
Marist played party crashers exactly 12 months ago when they upset a confident home team 35-13 on the occassion of Kaierau's 125th celebrations - a result which signalled Kaierau's slow slide to just miss the semifinals.
While the maroon and golds have barely got out of the blocks this year with just two wins, they are coming off the bye week so had time to mentally prepare for the big clash.
"I know they'd love to spoil the party, because we did that to them last year," said Hamlin.
"You have a banana skin game, it can really set you back."
With a big marquee village at the club rooms to watch the games, Hamlin also wants to be sure his regular club players can handle the elevated excitment of the occassion, not getting overawed or too distracted by well-wishers before kickoff.
"There's close to 700 people registered so it's going to be a big day at the club rooms.
"Some of these players might have dealt with that but some of them haven't."
The other big clash this weekend will be Taihape having to put it all on the line when second-placed Black Bull Liquor Pirates come to Memorial Park, as they must pull out a couple of minor upsets if they are to hold off McCarthy's Transport Ruapehu in the race for fourth.
Ruapehu will want maximum points when they host Harvey Round Motors Ratana in Ohakune, while Border meet Utiku Old Boys in Waverley.
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There will be a new trophy to mark the occasion of Wanganui Marist Rugby Football Club's centenary as the feature game at Spriggens Park will be for the Carmody Cup.
President Clark Allan said the trophy, to be contested annually between Marist and Kaierau, has been donated by the Carmody family in honour of life member Cyril.
The festivities start tonight with registrations and photo opportunities at the clubrooms.
Four marquees have been erected at the park as the guests can watch all three of their club teams play, starting from 11.30am tomorrow.
Buffalo's meet Kaierau in the Senior Consolation grade, then fourth-placed Celtic face second-placed Kelso Hunterville in an important Senior Championship matchup.
The Premier match kicks off at 2.35pm.
These will be followed by the aftermatch presentations, and then on Sunday it will be the Over 40's time to shine as Marist meet Kaierau, which will be followed by the centenary dinner.
Clark said the dinner is at capacity with 450 people, while as of yesterday there were 725 who had registered to be part of the weekend.
"Quite a few came back from Australia and all that. All over the country, we were quite surprised."
