Tonight's game at Waitakere's Trusts Stadium is the Ferns' first outing following their world championship loss in July.
Since then, several changes have been made to the New Zealand line-up, on and off the court.
The defensive end is missing captain and chief ball-getter Casey Williams and her senior lieutenant, Katrina Grant, through injury.
Aitken has able back-up from Leana de Bruin and Anna Scarlett to take on starting roles, but has only 19-year-old rookies Kayla Cullen and Sulu Tone-Fitzpatrick to call on from the bench.
The retirement of Temepara George has left a gaping hole in the midcourt. Liana Leota will step into the starting wing attack spot, with converted shooter Anna Thompson providing cover in the position.
While the other two-thirds of the court are missing a sizeable chunk of experience, the shooting end is suddenly flush with talent, with former Samoan international Cathrine Latu finally eligible to don the black dress.
Although Irene van Dyk is still considered the first-choice option under the net, it is expected Latu will be injected into the match at some point for her Ferns debut.
The addition of Latu has added another dimension to the New Zealand attack, but Aitken expects there will be a period of adjustment for the 1.89m shooter as she develops new combinations with the midcourt.
"At the moment we're giving players the licence to let the ball go. Sometimes the error rate is a bit higher than what we would like, but we feel we have to start there before we actually get into possession as our only thing."
One player who needs no second invitation is Leota, who is looking forward to throwing caution to the wind and trying a few new things.
The crafty midcourter believes playing an understrength England side presents the perfect opportunity to get back in the groove again before the Ferns take on the world champion Australian side in a three-test series later this month.
Leota finds herself heading into the five end-of-year tests in a strange sort of space.
She has the opportunity to step up and play a leading role in the midcourt following the retirement of George.
But following this year, her netballing future is unclear.
Leota's family will move to the UK after her husband, Johnny, snared a rugby contract with English club Sale.
The 26-year-old is undecided whether she will take up an offer of playing in the English Superleague next season. She has also previously spoken about a desire to extend her family in the future.
• Williams and acting Silver Ferns captain Laura Langman have signed for another year with the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic ANZ Championship franchise.
The Magic squad members to have signed to date are Leana de Bruin, Langman, Erena Mikaere, Julianna Naoupu, Sulu Tone Fitzpatrick, Jess Tuki, Irene van Dyk and Williams.
