Arun Panchia and Joel Baker have edged out more experienced rivals to grab places in the New Zealand hockey squad for the Oceania Cup against Australia and Samoa in Invercargill next week.

Those to make way for them are midfielder/striker Dave Kosoof, who carried a knee injury into the recent Malaysian series, and midfielder Casey Henwood.

Twenty players have just completed a successful preparation series against Malaysia, continuing the unbeaten run of 11 matches this year.

Coach Shane McLeod said the final call was a hard one.

"This was a really tough selection. These players have been with us for a long time and have served us well. It now gives us a new direction in how we manage the centre half role."

Steve Edwards will take on the centre half position with Panchia in as a wing half and as back up for Edwards.

"Arun is at the stage where he will continue to grow and develop.

"Australia will be a very big challenge and we trust he will do well," McLeod said.

Panchia was one of the standouts for the Junior Black Sticks at the World Cup this year.

McLeod described the three-win, two-draw Malaysian series as "a bit of a yo yo" but he was satisfied with the intensity of the matches.

New Zealand: Nick Haig (Canterbury), Andrew Hayward (Canterbury), Simon Child (Auckland), Blair Hopping (North Harbour), Dean Couzins (Auckland), Ryan Archibald (Auckland), Brad Shaw (Canterbury), Joel Baker (Wellington), Stephen Graham (Midlands), Kyle Pontifex (Wellington), Phil Burrows (Wellington), Hayden Shaw (Canterbury), Arun Panchia (Auckland), Shea McAleese (Central), Richard Petherick (Midlands), Ben Collier (North Harbour), Steve Edwards (North Harbour), Nick Wilson (Central).