Star players Sarpreet Singh and Ryan Thomas are the two major absences for the All Whites, as the 26-man squad for next month's intercontinental playoff to qualify for the Football World Cup in Qatar.
The All Whites will face Costa Rica in Qatar on June 15 (NZ time) in a one-off encounter, with the winner earning their spot at this year's World Cup.
But they'll have to do so without two of their best players, both battling with injury woes for their European club sides.
PSV Eindhoven's Thomas, 27, was ruled out of the intercontinental playoff last month, after suffering a knee injury last October that's kept him sidelined since.
Meanwhile, 23-year-old Singh is also absent due to struggles with injury, battling a condition known as osteitis pubis - which affects the pelvis.
Playing this season for Jahn Regensburg, on loan from German giant Bayern Munich's development side, Singh hasn't played at any level since March.
But despite the absences, the All Whites' squad has been boosted by the return of centre back Michael Boxall, and attacking midfielder Marco Rojas.
Rojas hasn't played for the All Whites since 2019, thanks to a combination of injuries and COVID-19 enforced border restrictions.
"I'm very happy with the squad we have assembled," head coach Danny Hay said.
"The vast majority were part of the qualifying campaign, and a significant number were in the Olympic side, to this is a group that understands how we want to play and what is expected of them.
"We know this is a massive moment for football in New Zealand and I believe these are the players that give us the best possible chance for qualifying for the FIFA World Cup later this year."
Aside from facing Costa Rica, the squad will also warm-up for the intercontinental playoff against Peru in Barcelona on June 6, and against an as-of-yet unnamed opponent on June 10.
Should the All Whites defeat Costa Rica, New Zealand would appear at the Football World Cup for just the third time, and the first since 2010.
All Whites squad: Kosta Barbarouses, Joe Bell, Michael Boxall, Liberato Cacace, Joe Champness, Francis de Vries, Matthew Garbett, Matthew Gould, Alex Grieve, Dane Ingham, Elijah Just, Niko Kirwan, Clayton Lewis, Stefan Marinovic, Callum McCowatt, Tim Payne, Nando Pijnaker, Logan Rogerson, Marco Rojas, Winston Reid, Oli Sail, Tommy Smith, Marko Staminec, Bill Tuiloma, Ben Waine, Chris Wood
