Storm Purvis and Gina Crampton probably did not get much sleep last night.
The Southern Steel pair were yesterday named in the Silver Ferns squad for next year, a first for the Dunedin-based players.
Both had good ANZ Championship campaigns under now Silver Ferns coach Janine Southby, and join fellow Steel player Shannon Francois in the 14-strong squad.
"Definitely surprised,'' Purvis told the Otago Daily Times from Auckland yesterday.
"That's probably a pretty good way to describe it, along with a whole lot of other feelings.''
The 22-year-old has been battling a niggly ankle injury since May, which she picked up in the dying minutes of a one-point win against the Central Pulse in Dunedin.
It did not require surgery, but did make her journey to Silver Ferns selection more difficult.
"I have been trying to work really hard off the court because I have had a few injuries and my ankle has been playing up all year,'' she said.
"I've had about as much done to it as I can now, and I'm hoping it's pretty much 100%. But it's taken about eight months, so it's been really tough.
"It's really nice to have that hard work rewarded. A couple of spots have opened up and a couple of us defenders have performed well and been given the opportunity.''
Purvis is one of five defenders named in the squad, which has room for four more players to be included on the back of ANZ Championship form next season.
With captain Casey Kopua pregnant and unavailable, Purvis joins defenders Anna Harrison, veteran Leana de Bruin, Katrina Grant and fellow newcomer Jess Moulds, a former Otago player.
Crampton (23), who received the Aspiring Silver Fern award at the Netball New Zealand awards last month, said she was not expecting to be named in the team.
"It's still a bit surreal at the moment,'' she said from Auckland.
"I think it might sink in later. I was pretty surprised to get the award as well, but this is even better, you could say.''
The wing attack's selection comes after one season of regular court time in the ANZ Championship.
Crampton, who has been with the Steel since 2012, had not started a single game in the competition before this year.
But she started all 15 games (including playoffs) at wing attack the past season, impressing in the midcourt with Francois and captain Wendy Frew.
Crampton was one of 20 players taking part in a ‘‘pretty tough'' four-day trial in Auckland, but said it was all worthwhile after finding out she was selected.
"It's just great to play with people you have been watching on television and looking up to for years,'' she said.
Purvis and Crampton will spend Christmas at home with their families in Auckland and Wellington respectively, before returning to Dunedin in January when they will prepare for the the ANZ Championship, which starts in April.
The squad also features the return of goal shoot Cathrine Latu, who fell out of favour with former Silver Ferns coach Waimarama Taumaunu the past year.
Harrison is back playing netball after giving birth to her second child.
She will play for the Northern Mystics in next year's ANZ Championship.
Southern Steel shooter Te Paea Selby-Rickit is one of eight players to be named in the national development squad.
Former Steel defender Phoenix Karaka featured in Taumaunu's recent Silver Ferns squads, but has initially been relegated to the development squad under Southby.
National squads
for 2016
SILVER FERNS
Bailey Mes, Cathrine Latu, Maria Tutaia, Ameliaranne Wells, Gina Crampton, Kayla Cullen, Shannon Francois, Laura Langman, Grace Rasmussen, Leana de Bruin, Katrina Grant, Anna Harrison, Jess Moulds, Storm Purvis.
NZ DEVELOPMENT SQUAD
Ellen Halpenny, Phoenix Karaka, Malia Paseka, Erikana Pedersen, Te Paea Selby-Rickit, Samantha Sinclair, Sulu Tone-Fitzpatrick, Zoe Walker
