Forwards Lewis Jackson and Ben Kiore, midfielders Ben O'Farrell and Hamish Cotter, and goalkeeper Josh Dijkstra have been rewarded for strong campaigns in the national youth league.
Kiore netted a league-high 12 goals for the fourth-placed youth team, while Jackson, the younger brother of former Southern United captain Tom Jackson, scored eight of his own.
‘‘They did really well for the youth team last year,'' Fridge said.
‘‘So we have asked them to join us for the remainder of the year. It's up to them. If they are the right people for the job, then I will give them a chance.
‘‘They are local boys and they have earned the right to come up to the senior squad now.''
Their inclusion bolsters the Southern United squad, which has lost former captain Matt Joy and midfielder Tim McLennan.
Joy is joining the police force and McLennan is heading overseas.
Fridge has appointed midfielder Seamus Ryder as captain for the remainder of the season, and he could use the transfer window to add further players.
‘‘We have been trying to add to the squad,'' he said.
‘‘The transfer window opened [on Tuesday] and goes to the 13th, so there is always a chance to get someone in before then. We're always on the lookout, but if we don't get anyone, then we will go with what we have got.''
Southern United trained for the first time this year on Tuesday night. It also trained last night and will do so again tonight.
It faces the unenviable task of playing defending champion Auckland City in Auckland on Sunday afternoon.
While Auckland has accumulated 13 points from its five games to sit atop the ladder, the Dunedin-based team is at the opposite end of the standings.
It has managed just one win from its six games, but trails fifth-placed WaiBOP United by only three points.
Midfielder Rhys Ruka has been ruled out of Sunday's game after failing to recover from an ankle knock he picked up against Canterbury in the last game before Christmas.
Striker Sam French, who missed that game with a hamstring injury, has trained the past two nights and is available.
However, Fridge could yet lose players due to work commitments, as the team will not return to Dunedin until Monday morning.
Five players were unavailable for Southern United's game against Wellington last month because they could not get off work for when the team arrived back in the city on Monday.
Southern United has a short turnaround after Sunday's game, playing WaiBOP United in Hamilton next Thursday night.
The team will leave on the Thursday morning and not return to the city until the following morning, meaning more time off work for players.
‘‘It's a big ask for amateur players,'' Fridge said.
The second-year coach will not know the status of his players until the team holds its third and final training session of the week tonight.
