The team gathered in Invercargill this week to get its pre-season preparations under way.
Players were put through fitness testing and reviewed team values and expectations before heading to Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes for team-building exercises, including paddle boarding, an amazing race and challenges at Puzzling World.
The players were staying together in Wanaka and coach Reinga Bloxham said it was a good way for them to get to know each other "inside and out" early in the season.
"I think we’re just really lucky.
"To be able to come to those places within our zone and spread some of the love that we have and be visible to young up-and-coming netballers is really important to us and the community here have just been amazing already," Bloxham said.
Seven players are back from last season but three new — and some returning — faces have been added.
Former Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic captain Sam Winders has moved south, Courtney Elliott, who played for the Steel from 2018 to 2019, is back and mid-courter Ivari Christie has been elevated from a training partner.
Winders, who has played 47 games for the Silver Ferns, is a big gain and helping her transition to the Steel culture was key, Bloxham said.
"Even though she knows what netball’s about, it’s quite different to be able to come from one environment to the other.
"She’s a natural leader and she’s such a great sort of positive person in the environment, but they all seem to be really enjoying it."
Blending core and new Steel players together could give the team the "edge" ahead of the ANZ premiership, which begins on March 4.
"I think when you get a little bit complacent that’s when you can not be as thorough as you need to with things, so having new people come in is always a nice way of keeping it fresh and always revisiting what you do, why you do it and building new expectations and standards.
"It’s definitely refreshing."
The Steel has just over three weeks together, focusing on getting "bodies ready" and preparing some for Silver Ferns trials later this month, before taking a break on December 23.
The team will reconvene on January 9 ahead of its pre-season clashes against the Central Pulse and New South Wales Swifts on February 4 to 7 and the Canterbury Tactix three days later.
