I use my road bike on the indoor smart trainer in the winter. The trainer has an 11sp cassette. I have another bike I ride outdoors in the winter.

I have a new groupset on my road bike (11sp) and by the time winter rolls around the chain will still be in good shape, so I'm wondering if I should use an older 11sp chain on the bike for the 4 month period when the bike is only used on the trainer, thus keeping my newer chain for the spring. I'm asking now, so I make sure I have what is needed (master link, etc.). The chain I'm thinking of using is the one that was paired with the cassette already on the trainer, so they're a happy couple ;-)

The 11sp chains I have, that I could use in the winter on the trainer, do not have a master link. Can I buy a master link and simply install it on the older chain before I use it with the trainer? Would I need anything else (rivets or whatever the pins are called)?