Midcourter Shannon Francois made the squad, while shooter Te Paea Selby-Rickit and defender Storm Purvis are in line to make their international debuts.
But there was no room for form wing attack Gina Crampton or much-improved defender Jane Watson.
Both players were instrumental for the Steel this season and arguably deserved an opportunity in the national side.
They have been named in the New Zealand A team - along with fellow Steel player Jamie Hume - but were ''really close'' to making the top side, Silver Ferns coach Janine Southby said.
''It is not just those two who will feel really disappointed to have missed out,'' she said.
''I hope that they use that disappointment to get out there and improve. The reality is the midcourt is a really hard area to break into for the Silver Ferns.''
Southby said they both ''had really strong ANZ Championship seasons'' which is why they got the opportunity to trial. But Grace Rasmussen was preferred in the midcourt, while Purvis and Phoenix Karaka got the nod ahead of Watson.
Karaka was asked to lift her fitness earlier in the year and has done that, and, while Watson was preferred ahead of Purvis at the Steel, Purvis had a solid trial.
''[Purvis] started the season really strongly until she got ill and she is now getting back to top fitness and playing well across both positions which is what we were really looking for.''
Pulse shooter Maia Wilson is the other rookie in the squad and, along with Selby-Rickit, the pair potentially have long careers ahead of them if they can adjust to the pressures of international netball.
Key shooter Maria Tutaia has been ruled out of the quad series - with an injured foot - against South Africa, England and Australia, which starts on Saturday, and the Taini Jamison Trophy against Jamaica next month.
The other familiar face which will be missing belongs to long-serving defender Leana de Bruin.
She announced her retirement from international netball shortly before the Silver Ferns team was named.
She leaves having played 138 tests - 104 for New Zealand and 34 for her country of birth, South Africa - in a career which spanned nearly 20 years at the elite level.
Former Steel defender Katrina Grant has been named as captain, with Laura Langman deputising.
''Every time I play for my country it is an absolute honour, and to now be given the opportunity to lead the Silver Ferns as their captain alongside Laura - I'm still a little lost for words,'' Grant said.
The Silver Ferns open their season against world No3, England, at the Vector Arena on Saturday week.
