Steel vice-captain Francois (24) transitioned from wing attack to centre in the past ANZ Championship season, and is one of four midcourters named in the 12-strong team.
She joins Laura Langman, Grace Rasmussen and Kayla Cullen in a considerably more youthful side than in past years.
Rasmussen will probably start at wing attack in place of long-serving wing attack Liana Leota, while Cullen looks set to start at goal defence, after Joline Henry missed out on the team.
Langman is the team's first option at centre, meaning Francois will have her work cut out to unseat either Langman or Rasmussen for a starting spot.
She is the Steel's third most capped player (51) behind Wendy Frew (91) and Leota (54), and just last week signed on with the franchise for 2016.
While Karaka signed with the Central Pulse for next season a week ago, the talented defender's form for the Steel the past season catapulted her into the selectors' eyes.
The 21-year-old debuted for the Ferns against England last year and joins captain Casey Kopua, Leana de Bruin and Katrina Grant as the fourth specialist defender.
Her selection rules her out of the Southern team set to compete at the national under-23 championships in Auckland next week.
Southern Steel midcourter Gina Crampton, defender Storm Purvis and shooter Te Paea Selby-Rickit have been named in the New Zealand A team to play England and an under-21 Australian team in the lead up to the World Cup in Sydney.
Steel coach Janine Southby has been named as assistant coach to Kiri Wills.
