Lance was sitting fifth overall in the batting stakes for the competition with 208 runs, while also fourth in bowling with 11 scalps.
To fill the breach, United have convinced regular opening batsman Matthew Boswell to come back from Auckland where he has started the university year, while James Pennefather comes up from the United 2nd XI.
United had hoped to also get top fast-medium bowler Ryan Slight to come home for the weekend, but he currently has a knee injury.
"We're all looking forward to it and hope to get into it," said Hobbs
"Hoping to win, we've had a very successful season so far. We want to sign it off."
After a barren trophy case last summer, United experienced a renaissance this season as their unbeaten run in the five-team Premier League in December was followed by claiming the mini-tournament to find the local qualifier for the National Club Cricket tournament and then shocking New Plymouth Old Boys in the regional playoff on the same weekend.
They gave a good account in the three-wicket loss to Napier Tech in the Central Districts finals of the NCC in February, and after narrowly losing the opening game of Coastal Challenge to Matt Burke Engineering Marton Saracens, have progressed through their remaining matches undefeated.
This includes the eight wicket thrashing of Paraparaumu on January 21 at Kena Kena Park where United bowled them out for 79, with allrounder Simon Badger (5-25) and young spinner Dylan Martin (4-6) having season best figures.
"They're both playing [today], but that was a different wicket," said Hobbs.
While having the experienced Badger this season has really shored up United's middle order and overall bowling attack, Hobbs knows that the other key men like himself and Brendon Walker have to carry the load in Lance's absence today.
Meanwhile Greg Smith, with 259 runs, could move to the top of the batting standings, depending how St John's Tech's Dominic Rayner and Akash Gill (both 283) fare against Wereroa in the playoff for third.
Paraparaumu's most consistent performer has been allrounder Ramesh Subasinghe with 183 runs and ten wickets to his name.
If available, Andre Halbert is always dangerous at the top of the order, coming off 62 in the 123 run win over Marton on March 4 - which was Paraparaumu's last game as their semifinal with Tech was rained out and they advanced as the higher qualifier.
Umpires for the final will be Cliff Tootell and Mike George.
In the other minor playoffs, Tech meet Wereroa (3rd/4th) on Tasman Tanning No2, Marton travels to Donnelly Park to take on Levin (5th/6th), and Marist face Kapiti on Tasman Tanning No3 (7th/8th).
All games start at 12pm.
Road to the Final
January 7: United lost to Marton by six runs; Paraparaumu bt Kapiti by eight wickets.
January 21: United bt Paraparaumu by eight wickets.
February 4: United bt Marist by default; Paraparaumu bt Levin by 11 runs.
February 11: United bt Kapiti by 147 runs; Paraparaumu bt Tech by 63 runs.
February 18: United vs Levin and Paraparaumu vs Marist abandoned.
February 25: United bt Tech by 66 runs; Paraparaumu bt Weraroa by 148 runs.
March 4: United bt Weraroa by five wickets; Paraparaumu bt Marton by 123 runs.
March 11, Semifinals: United bt Weraroa by six wickets; Paraparaumu vs Tech abandoned.
