When creating the drop-down list in your template (see ItemType - Drop-down item), select your list from the list of lists and tick the 'mandatory' box.  This will ensure that there is always something in the box and, as there is only 1 item on the list it will always be the one you want.

This may seem as though it will never happen but it is a way of future-proofing a growing business or beginning to roll-out to a large workforce.