Brown and centre Camilla Lees were yesterday omitted from the Silver Ferns squad for the Australian leg of the Quad Series.
They have been replaced by midcourter Grace Rasmussen and shooter Anna Thompson but will return for the New Zealand leg of the tournament.
Brown, who was named Otago captain but stood down when she was recalled to the national team after a five-year absence, said her omission from the squad was by mutual consent.
Silver Ferns coach Wai Taumaunu was keen to provide playing opportunities for the wider squad and also to manage the players' workloads during a busy international schedule.
That suited Brown, who was keen to get back to her young family.
"It is a really long tour the Quad series ... so I'm going to use the opportunity to spend a little time at home and, with Wai wanting to build depth, it worked in well," Brown said.
Brown would like to help Otago out during her break but it is not likely.
"I would like to but the whole point of not being with the Silver Ferns is to be at home with my family. It wouldn't make sense to go off to Tauranga for a week."
Otago's surprise win against Canterbury in Dunedin in the weekend has kept the team's title prospects alive.
But depending on other results in the final round-robin matches, Otago may have to give Bay of Plenty one terrible whipping just to reach the semifinals.
The national championships resume in Tauranga on Wednesday with Otago in fifth place on seven points from four games.
Canterbury (12 points) and Auckland Waitakere (12 points) are through to the next round regardless of the outcome of their final round-robin match, which just happens to be against each other.
The winner of the match between Waikato (11 points) and Wellington (9 points) will decide which teams join them in the semifinals.
If Waikato wins, it will finish the round-robin in third place and Otago will need to beat bottom-of-the-table Bay of Plenty to secure the remaining berth.
If Wellington wins, then Otago will need to beat Bay of Plenty by 25 points to pull ahead of Waikato on goal average.
"The best scenario is Wellington lose and we win and then we are straight through," Otago coach Deb Tasi-Cordtz said.
Should Wellington win, then Tasi-Cordtz still believes a semifinal berth is within reach.
"We are the last game on that Wednesday night so we will know the scenario before we take the court.
"It is a lot of goals but we can look at that if we have too. It can be done, I guess."
Tasi-Cordtz was pleased with the improvement her side showed in the 56-45 win against Canterbury. The team has been struggling to gel, particularly in the midcourt, but rediscovered its touch with centre Shannon Francois leading the way.
Wing defence Stacey Peeters, who was returning from injury, added energy and shooter Te Paea Selby-Rickit landed 45 of her 53 attempts.
Silver Ferns
Squads
Australian leg
Shooters: Irene van Dyk, Maria Tutaia, Cathrine Latu, Anna Thompson. Midcourt: Laura Langman (vice-captain), Grace Rasmussen, Bailey Mes, Kayla Cullen. Defence: Leana de Bruin, Katrina Grant, Anna Harrison, Casey Williams (captain).
New Zealand leg
Shooters: Irene van Dyk, Maria Tutaia, Cathrine Latu, Jodi Brown. Midcourt: Laura Langman (vice-captain), Camilla Lees, Bailey Mes, Kayla Cullen. Defence: Leana de Bruin, Katrina Grant, Anna Harrison, Casey Williams (captain).
