The Hockeyroos will be banking on a three-match tour of South Africa to help finalise their squad for this year's World Cup and Commonwealth Games.
Australian women's hockey coach Adam Commens has named a 22-strong training squad for the trio of Tests in Stellenbosch beginning next week, including development player Emily Hurtz and junior Mariah Williams.
The team, who won silver at the World League finals last month, will also play a series of practice games against Olympic champions the Netherlands.
"This tour is an important starting point for our 2014 World Cup squad," Commens said on Wednesday.
"By including our entire squad and some additional athletes, we give ourselves the opportunity to expose all of our players to our tactical themes and cultural development, as well as top-level international competition."
Commens said his focus would be on testing different player combinations and styles, as well as finetuning set pieces.
"These priorities will lay a solid foundation for the competitions ahead as well as helping us understand which group of players will be most likely to give us success at the World Cup," he said.
The Hockeyroos will squeeze in a six-nation tournament in New Zealand in April before June's World Cup and the Commonwealth Games a month later.
Tour squad: Teneal Attard (QLD), Madonna Blyth (QLD), Edwina Bone (ACT), Mathilda Carmichael (NSW), Jane Claxton (SA), Casey Eastham (NSW), Anna Flanagan (ACT), Jordyn Holzberger (QLD), Emily Hurtz (NSW), Kate Jenner (NSW), Kirstin Johnson (QLD), Rachael Lynch (gk) (VIC), Karri McMahon (SA), Claire Messent (VIC), Georgia Nanscawen (VIC), Ashleigh Nelson (WA), Georgie Parker (SA), Brooke Peris (NT), Jodie Schulz (QLD), Emily Smith (NSW), Jayde Taylor (WA), Ashlee Wells (gk) (VIC), Kellie White (NSW), Mariah Williams (NSW)
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