"For us to have a good crack at this Shield, you need some experience and the majority of those starting have already played for King Country," says Alofa.
Dunster is the embodiment of that experience.
"It's a big year for Azza. If he doesn't get injured, touch wood, he'll bring up his hundred for the union. That's rare these days. This might be his last year, so we want to help him go out with a big bang," adds Alofa.
The strategy will be fairly simple for a bunch of keen amateurs up against pros and semi-pros.
"Hopefully we bring some of that physicality, and some of their young ones will buckle, but they are pretty talented," he says. "You have to play 80 minutes against all these bigger unions. The heartland sides start puckering out at about 60. We've gotta believe we can muster up against Waikato."
Wing Iliesa Ratuva, who scored 10 tries for the Rams in 2015, is now on the Waikato left wing, and ran in a hat-trick against Thames Valley last month.
King Country last challenged for the Shield in 2012, falling 67-16 to Taranaki in Inglewood, another small town venue for provincial rugby's greatest prize.
Adding to King Country's motivation, were it needed, is the fact that Sir Colin Meads is unwell. The 80-year-old legend cannot be at the game, but has sent goodwill messages to the team and even recalled the 1958 15-11 Shield defeat to Taranaki, in which the challengers lost the lead only in the final few minutes.
"We want to make Pinetree proud. He's a true King Country man," says Alofa.
Waikato, for their part, have named six new caps in their 23. Twelve of the squad are back from the 83-13 win over Thames Valley on June 6, which marked their first defence of the season.
Four New Zealand Under 20s players are included: prop Sefo Kautai is one of three debutants in the run-on team, along with flanker Mitch Jacobson, lock Sam Caird, and fullback Jordan Trainor, now over a leg injury and fresh from playing an Auckland club semifinal with Ponsonby last weekend.
Two other former New Zealand age group representatives - centre Nathaniel Apa and wing Penikolo Latu - are named.
On the bench, Hamilton Marist hooker Steven Misa, Melville prop Josh Iosefa-Scott and Hamilton Old Boys halfback Pele Cowley have all be named for the first time.
New Zealand Universities rep Whetu Douglas will captain the side from No 8 and forms a loose forward trio with Jacobson and James Tucker, who has been released from the Chiefs for the match.
Other notable inclusions are lock Brian Alainu'uese, who will make his first Waikato appearance since 2013 after a terrible run of injuries, and first five Sam Christie, who returns to the Waikato side after two seasons in Italy.
Waikato have repelled four Ranfurly Shield challenges from King Country, the last a 76-0 hiding in 1998.
Kickoff is at 2.35pm on Saturday, with the game televised live on SKY.
Waikato: Jordan Trainor, Penikolo Latu, Nathaniel Apa, Tevita Taufui, Iliesa Ratuva Tavuyara, Sam Christie, Harrison Levien, Whetu Douglas (c), Mitch Jacobson, James Tucker, Brian Alainu'uese, Jacob Skeen, Sefo Kautai, Hame Faiva, Tau Koloamatangi
Reserves: Steven Misa, Latu Talakai, Josh Iosefa-Scott, Sam Caird, Murray Iti, Pele Cowley, Matt Lansdown, Sevu Reece
King Country: James Hemara, Paul Olsen, Stephan Turner, Gilberto Pavan, Dean Church, Whakataki Cunningham, Zayn Tipping, Rob Sherson, Sam Mason, Anthony Wise, Aarin Dunster (c), Gene Waller, Steve Te Moananui, Sean Wanden, Carl Carmichael
Reserves: Josh Davis, James Ritchie, Adam Morris, Stevie Henry, Michael Foden, Kieron Rollinson, Te Waiti Mareikura, Thomas Orr
