Otago great Kane Russell has been recalled to the squad for the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia next month.
Russell, 33, the drag-flick specialist who has scored 90 goals in 215 tests, has not played for the national side since last year.
He is joined in the Black Sticks by three other Otago players — Benji Culhane, Finn Ward and Malachi Buschl — who might be a tad younger but who have a reasonable amount of international experience now.
James Hickson and Nic Lidstone come into the squad for the first time as travelling reserves.
With the Junior Hockey World Cup taking place about the same time, all under-21 players were unavailable for selection.
That opened the door for returning players to seize an important opportunity before next year’s FIH World Cup in the Netherlands and Belgium.
Coach Greg Nicol said the tournament presented a valuable chance to continue building depth within the squad and provide players with meaningful international experience.
"This is a great opportunity for our group to test themselves against top-tier opposition and to keep pushing our standards," Nicol said.
"It’s also an exciting chance for a few returning players to show how they can contribute heading into a big 2026 season."
They then play South Korea, Canada, India and Belgium in an intensive week of action.
Black Sticks
The squad
Aidan Sarikaya, Benji Culhane, Brad Read, Charlie Morrison, Dane Lett, Dylan Thomas, Finn Ward, George Baker, George Enersen, Isaac Houlbrooke, Joe Morrison, Kane Russell, Leon Hayward, Malachi Buschl, Sam Hiha, Sam Lane, Sean Findlay, Simon Yorston. Travelling reserves: James Hickson, Nic Lidstone.
