Otago Spirit captain Angie Sisifa and blockbusting midfielder Greer Muir have been included in coach Glen Moore's 56-strong squad, which will take part in a 12-month high performance training programme.
The squad has been named with an eye on the 2017 World Cup in Ireland, which New Zealand is desperate to win after losing its crown to England last year.
Sisifa and Muir, who are both playing for the Otago sevens team at the Southern region qualifiers in Timaru today, were the Otago Spirit's best players in this year's NPC.
Sisifa made her Black Ferns debut against Canada in June and can play anywhere in the back row.
Muir has not played for the national side, but has been rewarded for a couple of good seasons for the Spirit.
She is deceptively fast and has the ability to bust the opposition open with her direct running.
Former Spirit pivot Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali, who now plays for Counties Manukau, is also included in the squad.
''We have our eyes on the prize, the Women's Rugby World Cup in 2017,'' Moore said in a statement.
''The players are hungry for it and we will make sure the World Cup team represents the best players in New Zealand.''
