Spinner Dan Vettori has retired, swing bowler Trent Boult is having a short break, Elliott is missing and Corey Anderson is making his way back from injury.
The rest of the domestic limited-overs summer will have players jostling for selection, not only in each match, but also for the World T20 in India in March. The squad for that event is expected to be named in early February.
The absence of Boult and Tim Southee, who sits out the first two matches in Christchurch, is one obvious instance where fast-medium bowlers should not lack incentive.
Speedster Adam Milne, the burly Mitchell McClenaghan, Matt Henry and Doug Bracewell all have different qualities. They will share the responsibilities in the Christchurch games.
McClenaghan has had some disappointments in the national team this year, but his skills are well known to coach Mike Hesson and fellow selector Gavin Larsen.
Milne brings extra pace. His 25 ODIs spread over three years have produced 24 wickets at 38, but there were five in his three appearances in South Africa in August.
Bracewell's three for 31 at Potchefstroom helped bowl South Africa out for 204 and set up an eight-wicket win. He's had a good recent period in the test game. Now he needs to transfer that good work to limited overs internationals - he's played nine ODIs and taken 12 wickets.
Henry is in the frame and has fine ODI figures - 28 wickets at 27 from 16 matches.
"We want to see them take responsibility," Hesson said. "Adam did that well on the last tour, Dougie certainly impressed in South Africa and obviously his batting is a little point of difference for him. Mitch hasn't had a great 12 months but we know what he's capable of so we're certainly looking for him to step up."
Brendon McCullum is expected to captain the side on Boxing Day, although he may sit the occasional ODI out - and won't be playing any more T20 - but Hesson doesn't think the skipper's announcement of his pending retirement to affect performance.
"We're expecting the guys to carry on in a similar style of play in terms of how we want to go about things," Hesson said. "We will still be quite aggressive in the way we go about the game and we'll certainly be asking that of our players. But we also expect to win both series."
New Zealand are ranked fourth in ODI cricket, one spot ahead of the Sri Lankans while Pakistan are a slightly misleading eighth.
NZ squad
Squad for the first three ODIs against Sri Lanka, starting in Christchurch on December 26:
Brendon McCullum (c), Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, George Worker, Henry Nicholls, Luke Ronchi, Mitchell Santner, Doug Bracewell, Ish Sodhi, Adam Milne, Mitchell McClenaghan, Matt Henry (first two only), Tim Southee (third game only).
NZ home schedule
Sri Lanka
Boxing Day: First ODI, Christchurch.
Dec 28: Second ODI, Christchurch.
Dec 31: Third ODI, Nelson.
Jan 2: Fourth ODI, Nelson.
Jan 5: Fifth ODI, Mt Maunganui.
Jan 7: First T20, Mt Maunganui.
Jan 10: Second T20, Eden Park.
Pakistan
Jan 15: First T20, Eden Park.
Jan 17: Second T20, Hamilton.
Jan 22: Third T20, Westpac Stadium, Wellington.
Jan 25: First ODI, Basin Reserve, Wellington.
Jan 28: Second ODI, Napier.
Jan 31: Third ODI, Eden Park.
