Last round's 12th man, Dane Cleaver, is playing but CD's problems are compounded with captain Kieran Noema-Barnett unable to bowl because of a groin injury.
With Bracewell injured and Carl Cachopa still nursing a hamstring, there's a dearth of allrounders who can bowl 10 overs.
"Carl is likely to join the squad when we fly straight from Christchurch to Auckland [on Monday] for the next round [against the Aces at Eden Park on Wednesday]," Hamilton said.
The Stags thrashed the Wellington Firebirds by eight wickets in the opening round but succumbed by 92 runs to the Aces at Saxton Oval, Nelson, on Wednesday.
"We were probably outplayed by a better side with a few Black Caps," Hamilton said, believing CD were 20-30 runs shy of reaching the winning target of 308 as the Wizards skittled them with a shade more than 10 overs in the bank.
The boys' confidence was high, he said, with work ethics to match considering they were still sitting on five points behind leaders Auckland on the table.
But not if Canterbury coach Gary Stead and his men have their way tomorrow.
"CD gave Wellington a hiding so they'll have confidence but they are sitting above us so we want to knock everyone above us down on the way to the top," Stead said.
Todd Astle is the straight swap for Hira but Stead emphasised they had other options in Rob Nichol and ex-CD left-arm batsman George Worker's ability to tweak the ball, after a washout game.
"Todd's confidence is high after the game in Napier [last shield game at McLean Park last month] where he took 14 wickets, so that's incredible."
Despite flooding in Canterbury, he felt the oval had held up well under the covers.
The outer perimeter was a little damp but he didn't think the moisture would hold to make them bowl first if they won the toss. "It'll be just the same all day. I'll be surprised if it's not a good [batting] deck," the former White Ferns coach said.
CANTERBURY: Peter Fulton (c), Tom Latham (wk), George Worker, Dean Brownlie, Rob Nicol, Henry Nicholls, Andy Ellis, Simon Keen, Ryan McCone, Hamish Bennett, Matt McEwan, Todd Astle.
CD STAGS: Jamie How, Ben Smith, William Young, Kieran Noema-Barnett (c), Kruger van Wyk (wk), Dane Cleaver, Tarun Nethula, Seth Rance, Andrew Mathieson, Marty Kain, Bevan Small.