Maria Folau's massive news amid controversy surrounding husband

Maria Folau has won selection to compete at the Netball World Cup in a welcome dose of good news for the veteran Silver Ferns goal shoot.

Coach Noeline Taurua will call on Folau, defender Casey Kopua and midcourter Laura Langman to anchor New Zealand's campaign in Liverpool in July.

The trio will all contest their fourth World Cup and are the Test centurions in a 12-strong squad that contains 781 Test caps.

Folau's selection comes in the wake of a difficult month for the Adelaide Thunderbirds star.

She has remained publicly silent throughout the controversy swirling around husband Israel Folau, the Waratahs and Wallabies star who has been stripped of his Rugby Australia contract following homophobic posts on social media.

Maria Folau, 32, has strongly hinted the World Cup will be her last event for New Zealand.

She may yet continue playing in the Australian Super Netball league, where she is the only leading Kiwi player along with Sunshine Coast Lightning star Langman.

‘Wants to be there’

Assistant coach Debbie Fuller said there was never any question that Folau would make the squad due to her experience.

"Maria's the kind of shooter who, in the big games, wants to be there and wants to shoot," Fuller said.

"She's immersed (in Super Netball) and that in itself shows she wants to extend herself and extend her knowledge of the game."

Former skipper Kopua has already confirmed her retirement will follow the tournament.

Taurua has made a number of notable recalls, including former captain Katrina Rore, who was dropped for the Quad Series in January.

Goal defence Rore has been one of the stars of a Central Pulse team who have qualified to host the final of the Kiwi domestic league.

Shooter Bailey Mes, midcourter Shannon Saunders and defender Phoenix Karaka haven't played for New Zealand since the first half of 2018.

Among those to miss selection are rising Pulse goal shoot star Aliyah Dunn and experienced defender Kayla Cullen, the partner of NRL star Shaun Johnson, who has struggled with injuries.

Seven of the squad played in the final of the 2015 World Cup in Sydney, where they were beaten 58-55 by Australia.

They are Folau, Mes, Langman, Saunders, Rore, Kopua and Karaka.

SILVER FERNS SQUAD:

Shooters: Maria Folau, Ameliaranne Ekenasio, Te Paea Selby-Rickit, Bailey Mes.

Midcourters: Laura Langman (capt), Gina Crampton, Shannon Saunders, Karin Burger.

Defenders: Katrina Rore, Phoenix Karaka, Jane Watson, Casey Kopua.