Tom Wells has experience for Auckland B and Munster A.
Everywhere you look across the park at Cooks Gardens tomorrow denotes the new era, but with it comes old expectations.
For Steelform Wanganui's opening Pink Batts Heartland Championship game the cutter is being run by a fresh pairing, leading a backline where all but two are either on first class debut or have solitary appearances to their name.
In the forward pack, the veterans must support their rake who is likewise in his Heartland debut, although he is no spring chicken at 32.
Wanganui coach Karl Hoskin has gone with prospects over experience in naming Tom Wells and Lindsay Horrocks as the first-five/halfback combination ahead of veterans Areta Lama and Josh Edwards.
Winger Robert Hughes has also played his way into the starting XV with Fijian speedster Sailosi Nagicu moving to the Development team.
Wells, who came down from Auckland's College Rifles last year with experience for Auckland B and Munster A, has been tapped to fill the large kicking boots of Mark Davis.
For Hoskin, this is a horses for courses strategy while Lama can bring all-out attack with the ball in hand, Wells can use his passing and vision.
"We've selected players with very different skill sets.
"This is where it starts for us new coaching set up, new selection, a new way of doing it."
With Wells, veteran Ace Malo and youngster Zyon Hekenui "he's gone from strength to strength" Hoskin is confident the team won't lack for points scored through the posts.
The fresh pivot theme continues up front where 32-year-old hooker Karl Parker will pack down between veteran pillars Shaun McDonough and Vaan Rauhina.
Parker has the job of finding Wanganui's jumpers Nick Cranston and Sam Madams, who had a bit of work to do after Saturday's tribulations against NZ Army.
Captain Peter Rowe has recovered from his facial injury to take his place at openside .
He will start with loosie clubmates Andrew Evans and Jason Hughes, as Lasa Ulukuta and Doug Horrocks are moved to the bench. Bradley Graham drops to the Development team.
Hoskin said the lessons were learned from the scratchy efforts against Army, helped by the latest gadgetry at his disposal.
As well as video taping Saturday's pre-season game to pinpoint faults to be corrected on Tuesday, an iPad is now used at every session, giving coaches immediate replays of player techniques.
"All that technology has been around for years and we're just catching onto it."
He hopes the 21st Century approach will be matched with the timeless component of team harmony especially as many suddenly find public profile thrust upon them.
Hoskin knows the task ahead to make an eighth consecutive final while burying the ghosts of Ruatoria last year, where the team was run down in a pulsating second half.
From the mill in Tangiwai, to Cullinane College where Rauhina teaches, the team face colleagues, friends and family telling them how it is in the buildup to tomorrow.
"People aren't shy to come up and tell you that. People I don't even know," admits Hoskin.
"But that's a good thing at least people are concerned enough to give you their opinion and hopefully they come and watch on Saturday."
There is also the burden of expectation on King Country's shoulders as they endeavour to lift from the bottom of the table in 2012 and get their first Heartland win against Wanganui, while also being the first team to upset the home side at Cooks Gardens in 30 attempts.
Like Wanganui, they had a two-game pre-season, their second match a 27-17 loss to Thames Valley in Te Aroha.
Still, they also have a new man at the helm in Kurt McQuilkin the former Irish international, King Country and Northland player who will guide the NZ Heartland XV at the end of the year.
Taupo's Brian Mansfield is captain, winger Dean Church is a familiar face, while the imports are lock Anthony Wise and prop Ted Tauroa who was on the bench for Waikato during their ITM Cup campaign last year.