Silver Ferns coach Noeline Taurua seems to have secured the services of at least two of her World Cup 'fossils' for the upcoming Constellation Cup series against Australia.
Netball NZ has named a 16-player wider squad for the four matches next month, with all-but one of the world-champion roster returning to face their archrivals, home and away.
The only absentee is defender Casey Kopua, who retired immediately after the final in Liverpool.
Shooter Maia Wilson, midcourters Witney Souness, Kimiora Poi and Sam Sinclair, and defender Michaela Sokolich-Beatson join the squad.
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Notable inclusions are self-described fossils, captain Laura Langman and shooter Maria Folau, whose futures with the national team were up for question, after contesting their fourth world tournaments each.
Long-serving defender and former captain Katrina Rore was another perhaps another reconsidering her future, after attending her third World Cup.
Tauroa says the squad will cover both the Constellation Cup and the Northern Quad Series in January, when her own current coaching contract expires.
"I'm really mindful I have to work around their longevity in the sport, but at the moment, they're in and they're available, so I'll milk it as much as I can," she told Newshub.
"To have their experience, but also to pass on some of that knowledge to the others coming through is invaluable. They're great campaigners, they're playing really well.
"All three of them are on top of their game - they're so far away from being retired."
Poi is the only member of the squad who hasn't represented the Silver Ferns yet, but she's currently playing for Collingwood in the Australian Super Netball competition.
Several other fringe candidates, including injured Kelly Jury, Temalisi Fakahokotau and Erena Mikaere, have been included in the Silver Ferns development squad, which also features several eligible for the 2021 Netball Youth (U21) World Cup, where New Zealand are defending champions.
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