The world champion United States will be without their most recognisable star when they visit New Zealand for their World Cup warm-up matches against the Football Ferns later this month.
Co-captain and two-time World Cup winner Megan Rapinoe has been ruled out of the tour due to an ankle injury and will play no part in the fixtures in Wellington on January 18 and Auckland on January 21.
She'll remain in the US to rehabilitate the injury before the World Cup in New Zealand in Australia starts in July.
Meanwhile, the Football Ferns have named six uncapped players in their 26-strong squad, with several key players absent due to the timing of the games, which fall outside FIFA's official international window.
Among the potential debutants are National League Championship winning duo Tayla O’Brien and Deven Jackson from Eastern Suburbs, Canterbury veteran Rebecca Lake, Grace Neville and goalkeeper Murphy Sheaff.
The most notable absentees include goalkeeper Vic Esson, defenders Meikayla Moore and Rebekah Stott, forward Hannah Wilkinson and midfielder Malia Steinmetz.
"This series takes place outside of an official FIFA window, meaning some squad members were not released by their clubs, some members will join later and others will need to depart the team early," said Football Ferns coach Jitka Klimkova.
"It opens an opportunity to revisit players who are not with us regularly, look at a few new players as well as continue to make progress towards peaking in July.
"We are grateful to the clubs for collaborating with us and allowing many of our players to be involved.
"The games will be a great opportunity for the football community to see their Football Ferns and the current world champions just six months before the women's World Cup."
The Football Ferns will be chasing their first win over the US in their maiden encounter on NZ soil.
Football Ferns squad to play USA:
Lily Alfeld, Erin Nayler, Murphy Sheaff, Liz Anton, Mackenzie Barry, Ally Green, Anna Green, Rebecca Lake, Grace Neville, Ali Riley, Ashleigh Ward, Hannah Blake, Olivia Chance, Daisy Cleverley, Betsy Hassett, Deven Jackson, Aniela Jensen, Jana Radosavljević, Grace Wisnewski, Ava Collins, Jacqui Hand, Grace Jale, Tayla O’Brien, Gabi Rennie, Emma Rolston, Paige Satchell
