"I believe we've got the team to do it. We've got enough experience, just the right amount, plus a bit of madness and you need that. At the same time it will take a lot of luck."
"I thought we had the team to do it in 2014 but we had a little slip up and ended up third," Groome recalled.
Although McLachlan isn't expected to discuss tactics in detail with his troops until this afternoon Groome, 29, expected he will be asked to display the benefits of his experience and stress the importance of keeping a level head.
"It's easy to get carried away with the atmosphere and lose focus a bit when you get down there among the 18,000 plus screaming fans."
"Having raced for the Tigers last year it was good to experience how other teams approach the event and the processes they go through. But in saying that I'm impressed with the morale in this Hawkeyes team and the work Mike has put in to it," Groome said.
"It's important to remember the fun element ... if you are having fun you're looking good."
Groome described the team's rookies, Wise and Tarrant, as "the rising stars of teams racing."
"Randal has been this season's heat three standout and Maddie is super quick."
O'Brien, 38, is the oldest in the team and with three previous stints with the Hawkeyes, in 2014, '15 and last year, as well as a mission with the Baypark Busters in 2016 he also boasts plenty of experience.
The owner of his own aluminium and maintenance business, O'Brien, said he is enjoying the buzz associated with the new-look Hawkeyes who will aim for a third consecutive title in Palmy.
"It's good to have some young blood."
He is thrilled with the eight-race gap between the Hawkeyes races tonight.
"That's one of the luxuries of being the defending champions. It gives us plenty of time to fix our cars between races and it will also enable me to watch Kairyn race," he said referring to his son, the Hawkeyes 2017 sixth man, who will be representing the Canterbury Glen Eagles this weekend.
"Kairyn went down to Christchurch to be with his girlfriend. He also managed to score a job and lease a superstock so the Cantabs snapped him up. Hopefully we might end up racing against him," O'Brien added.
Another of the experienced hands, Butcher, 34, is rapt to be given another crack in Palmy after missing last year's successful title defence with a bout of concussion. He was in the 2012, '13, '15 and '16 Hawkeyes teams.
The owner of HRPP, one of the team's main sponsors, Butcher, was quick to reply when quizzed on his roles:
"It's up to us older guys to take some of the pressure off the younger ones and make sure they learn fast. It's up to me to bring a bit of mongrel too."
McLachlan, 37, enhanced his reputation as one of the best blockers in the country when the Hawkeyes went back-to-back last year. That was his sixth consecutive year in the team and this weekend will be his first taste of the manager's role.
"I will race if needed and I've made sure I can fit into all of the cars just in case," quipped the jovial Taradale premier rugby team front rower who boasts the nickname of "Speedway" because of his tremendous passion for his summer code.
McLachlan, who runs Flushed Drainage, yes he unblocks during the day and blocks at night, is thrilled with the buzz his troops are displaying.
"It's important we don't get ahead of ourselves. Whanganui are our first opponents and they've got some old school drivers ... we shouldn't be looking any further than them.
"Yes we've got a team capable of bringing the trophy back to the Bay. But we will only do that if we focus on one race at a time."
McLachlan is rapt with the support the team has received and he singled out extended squad member Zach Lawrence and Butcher for their new-look paint jobs and the team's major sponsors Hawk Packaging, Speedy Signs, HRPP, Zach Lawrence Designs and Meeanee Speedway.
Although Tarrant, 24, has had less than 12 months' experience in his superstock, the Waipawa Auto Super Shoppe mechanic was spot on when he said all of his experience gained from eight national teams appearances and close to 50 races with the Meeanee Maulers stockcar team will serve him well this weekend.
"People say its different in stockcars but it's the same thing."
Should Wise, 20, get track time this weekend he will become the youngest driver to race for the Hawkeyes in this event. The third-season driver in the superstock class, who works as a trainee welder, is no stranger to big-time motorsport with five national karting titles on his CV.
With this background and some impressive displays in his superstock earlier this summer it won't be a surprise if McLachlan tells him to slip his helmet on for at least one of the races tonight.
While Hawke's Bay fans will watch Kairyn O'Brien's drives for Canterbury with interest there will also be plenty of interest in the form two-time ENZED Teams champion with the Hawkeyes, Jason Long, when he turns out for the Gisborne Giants.
As Tarrant said there are no weak teams this year which makes it tough to predict the semifinalists. Don't be surprised if the Palmerston North Panthers, Manawatu Mustangs, Great Britain Lions and the Hawke's Bay Hawkeyes reach the semifinals on Sunday night.
Teams:
Hawke's Bay Hawkeyes: Adam Groome, Regan O'Brien, Randal Tarrant, Quintin Butcher, Maddie Wise. Sixth man: Mike McLachlan.
Whanganui Warriors: Chad Ace, Scott McIntosh, Dion Mooney, Clint Hill, Shaun Pearson. Sixth man: Francis Potaka.
Waikato Wanderers: Jared Wade, Aidan Eustace, CJ Chesnutt, Aaron Alderton, Tyson Wootton. Sixth man: Scott Redfern.
Auckland Allstars: Josh Prentice, Dean Mulholland, Bryce Marx, Ron Tye, Craig Chatfield.
Baypark Busters: Kerry Remnant, Scott McEwen, Kyle Fraser, Bruce Williams, Mark Costello.
Canterbury Glen Eagles: Mike Hyslop, Malcolm Ngatai, Kairyn O'Brien, Tim Ross, Harley Robb.
Gisborne Giants: Peter Rees, Gary Davis, Jason Long, Nick Vallance, Ethan Rees.
Great Britain Lions: Chris Cowley, Neil Scothern, Ben Hurdman, Lee Fairhurst, Frankie Wainman Jnr.
Manawatu Mustangs: Adam Joblin, Scott Joblin, Shane Mellsop, Chevron Taniwha, Gavin Taniwha.
Nelson Tigers: Alex Bright, Anthony McKenzie, Dale McKenzie, Alex Hill, Trevor Lineham.
Palmerston North Panthers: William Humphries, Jordan Dare, Peter Bengston, Jack Miers, Wayne Hemi.
Rotorua Rebels: Lance Ashton, Lance Elsworth, David Elsworth, Dale Stewart, Bryce Steiner.
Stratford Scrappers: Mitch Vickery, Gary Johnson, Blair Johnson, Carl Shearer, Paul Johnson. Sixth man: Hamish Booker.
Wellington Wildcats: Keegan Levien, Shane Davis, Richard Gaskin, Dale Robertson, Hilton Parker. Sixth man: Allen Levien.
Tonight's draw:
1. Baypark Busters v Wellington Wildcats
2. Manawatu Mustangs v Auckland Allstars
3. Canterbury Glen Eagles v Palmerston North Panthers
4. Rotorua Rebels v Stratford Scrappers
5. Great Britain Lions v Nelson Tigers
6. Whanganui Warriors v Hawkes Bay Hawkeyes
7. Gisborne Giants v Waikato Wanderers
8. Baypark Busters v Manawatu Mustangs
9. Wellington Wildcats v Auckland Allstars
10. Canterbury Glen Eagles v Rotorua Rebels
11. Palmerston North Panthers v Stratford Scrappers
12. Great Britain Lions v Whanganui Warriors
13. Nelson Tigers v Gisborne Giants
14. Hawkes Bay Hawkeyes v Waikato Wanderers