All of them are back for the rematch at Nelson Park, Napier, this Sunday but so are two of the three debutants from last year - Central Districts Stags seamer Blair Tickner and veteran allrounder Casey Rangi.
"Last year Hawke's Bay tipped over and fell apart with some people left out so on Sunday we'll want to rectify that problem," says first-season Bay coach Colin Schaw, emphasising the need to exorcise their demons regardless of whether it was "the grassiest wicket ever at Harry Barker" or "through the lack of application".
Stags coach Heinrich Malan has released Tickner from the Georgie Pie Super Smash Twenty20 squad but kept Complete Flooring Napier Technical Old Boys (NTOB) batsman Indika Senarathne although it seems likely he too will be back when international compatriot Mahela Jayawardene makes his CD debut at Nelson on Thursday.
Senarathne, who has had lean pickings as opening batsman but looks frightfully crisp when he middles the ball, may stay on if Jesse Ryder doesn't recover in time from his thigh strain.
"Indika's stayed on with them, which is great for him and I'm really happy because that's what we want for the players," said Schaw who is banking on Rangi to deliver in a young Bay batting line up.
"Casey can bowl a few overs but I want him to concentrate on his batting at No3 because he's a good, gutsy player so with Indika not here I'll want Casey to steady the ship."
Heretaunga Building Society Cornwall player Jacob Smith returns as captain but is going to be the non-bowler in the 12-member team Schaw and co-selectors John Jowsey and Derek Stirling named this week.
Smith, spotted watching the Australia v Black Caps test match at the Gabba last week, didn't play in the Chapple Cup a fortnight ago because of a shoulder injury but has recovered.
The Cornwall seamer is likely to be the non-batter.
It hasn't been easy for the trio to leave out young talent such as Christian Leopard, Dom Thompson and Rupert Young as well as Jurgen Anderson, who would have played had Tickner not returned.
"It was hard for John, Derek and I but at the end of the day you can play 12."
Schaw said the Bay was lucky to have a plethora of seaming talent from the Bay premier men's competition but said he found other aspects disconcerting.
"Club cricket is concerning me because the guys aren't really applying themselves."
He said while selectors spotted talent they have had to "bring them players up to standard" in Bay training sessions.
Primarily, the Kirk Cup game is a dress rehearsal for the Bay's first Hawke Cup zone 2 (Blair Furlong) qualifying match against Horowhenua-Kapiti the following weekend.
However, Schawsaid the players not in the 12 still "have every chance to be selected".
He rules out any complacency on the suspicion that the visitors, with David McDonald as coach, tend to recruit loan players from Bay of Plenty.
