The Black Sticks will be missing a handful of familiar names and assistant coach Sean Dancer will be taking the reins for the international women's tri-series, which gets under way in Cromwell on Saturday.
But the Black Sticks are desperate to build on their impressive form and have promised more of the attitude that helped them claim gold at the Commonwealth Games last month.
They swept Australia aside 4-1 in the final and Dancer is hoping his side can use that performance as a springboard for the series and the World Cup, to be held in London from July 21 to August 5.
''This tournament is key for us and our development, but also for players to really push their selection claims for the World Cup, so the timing of the tournament is great,'' Dancer said.
''We want to be successful and to be successful at the highest level we need to be able to perform, whether some of the key players are there or not.
''So we will go down there and give it everything we can to come away with a win.''
The tri-series will have New Zealand (world No4) play transtasman rivals Australia (5th) and Japan (12th) during nine days of what is shaping to be exciting hockey at Pioneer Energy Sports Turf.
It is the first time international hockey has been staged in Cromwell and the first time the Black Sticks have played in Otago since May 2007.
The Black Sticks have made five personnel changes to the Commonwealth Games team.
Captain Stacey Michelsen, who carried the flag for New Zealand in the closing ceremony of the Games, will miss the series, along with experienced defenders Sam Charlton and Liz Thompson.
Striker Amy Robinson is also missing the tournament and Pippa Hayward retired after the Games, having played 158 tests for her country.
Auckland midfielder Lulu Tuilotolava has been called into the side and the 21-year-old will be making her debut during the series.
Strikers Kirsten Pearce and Michaela Curtis and defenders Steph Dickins and Kim Tanner return.
Dancer is stepping up to lead the team while head coach Mark Hager takes a back seat.
''He will still be involved with everything. It is just on game day I'll take a lead role and he will get to observe from the stands.
''He has given me the freedom to add anything or make changes as I see fit. It is a great development opportunity for me.''
Under the tournament format, all three teams play each other twice. The top team after the round-robin phase will automatically progress to the final, where it will meet the winner of the second-third playoff game.
The absence of Michelsen and Charlton at the back will mean the Black Sticks will have to put a lot of work into their defensive patterns and communication.
''One of the strengths for us at Com Games was our defence and they have so much experience. They are certainly key players for us, but we want to develop the depth and be able to win whether they are there or not.''
