The Steel revealed last night it had persuaded 36-year-old shooter Dalton to make herself available for the game against the Melbourne Vixens in Invercargill.
With Australian Megan Dehn scratched with a bad ankle sprain, the southern side is severely short of experienced shooting options.
Dalton was a member of the world championship-winning Silver Ferns in 2003 and also played for the Sting in the former National Bank Cup from 2002 to 2006.
She then retired to concentrate on raising her three children.
Dalton has been part of the television commentary team so far this season in the ANZ championship but will get back in a skirt and bib to support primary Steel shooter Daneka Wipiiti and young back-ups Jess Tuki, Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit and Juliana Naoupu.
The Steel had to get a relatively simple clearance from Netball New Zealand to add Dalton to its roster.
Meanwhile, Steel mid-courter Debbie White has found injury and life on the sidelines frustrating.
The self-confessed fitness fanatic had a charmed injury-free run with the Otago Rebels in the now defunct National Bank Cup.
She played more the 50 consecutive games for the Rebels but strained her ankle about four weeks ago and has had to bide her time on the bench.
The ankle was still ginger last week but White is back to full fitness for the Steel's crucial clash against the Vixens at Stadium Southland.
"It was frustrating at the start because I love to play and love to be out there," White said.
"We just made a recovery plan to make sure I could get back as quickly as possible and I've just focused on doing that well."
The Steel can ill afford to drop any of its remaining five ANZ Championship matches if it is to reach the play-offs.
While the team has made a slow start to the competition, White is supremely confident the side will fight its way back.
"I honestly think that we'll be in the semis.
It's doable."
While the Steel has won just three of its eight games it could have easily won another two close matches which slipped away in the dying stages.
The Otago-Southland combined side has looked panic-stricken in the tight games, raising the question of whether the team gets enough time together before the games.
With the squad spread throughout New Zealand, the Steel usually assemble on Thursday for some intensive training session ahead of that week's game.
"I don't think we can use that excuse to be honest," White said.
"We haven't been together as long as the Aussie teams have, and I think that has probably shown through.
But our training sessions have been quality sessions."
One area where White concedes the Steel needs to lift its performance is in its turnover rate.
The franchise has spelt too much possession at crucial times and coach Robyn Broughton has been stressing the need to play mistake-free netball.
"We've been looking at ball retention and also picking up a bit more ball on defence."
Working with the master coach has been a highlight for White.
"She has just got such insight into netball.
It is great to have a different approach and another point of view."
The Vixens had a comfortable 57-44 win over the West Coast Fever in Melbourne on Sunday and are in third place with 12 competition points.
Led by world-class goal attack Sharelle McMahon, the Vixens have a potent attack with an experience midcourt feeding them the ball.
Defenders Julie Prendergast and Bianca Chatfield will present a formidable challenge for the Steel shooters.
