Claydon had clocked up more than 100 Twenty20 games for Kent so the right-arm medium pacer would add another dimension, Malan felt.
"He's not an express bowler but a clever one. We need someone with a calm head especially in Twenty20 where we have had people who have only played a handful of games.
"Your Mathiesons, Clarksons and Tickners, if they get an opportunity, it's important we have people out there with calm heads so he [Claydon] definitely brings that to the party for us."
Malan said Jesse Ryder, who registered a golden duck on debut for Wairarapa, his region of birth, on day one of Chapple Cup would be the other pivot.
"It's always fun coming back to play a little Chapple Cup cricket but, you know, Jesse's an integral part of our campaign from a white-ball perspective.
"Having his power at the top of the [batting] order and his skill from a bowling perspective will be important."
Malan said Dane Cleaver would return to the fold after a "fantastic three days over here".
"He's scored 100 and got his team [Manawatu] across the line so I reckon it's something he'll be keen to do for us."
Last summer's prolific run scorer, William Young, also returns from Lincoln, near Christchurch , from NZ A duties.
Marty Kain claimed the tweaker's portfolio with Plunket Shield left-armer Ajaz Patel missing out despite taking a five-wicket bag in Hawke's Bay's match against Taranaki in the Chapple Cup yesterday.
"Marty's our white-ball specialist at this stage while Ajaz misses out, unfortunately, but it's a good time for him to go back [to club and Bay rep] to work out a couple of things."
-CD Stags: Kruger van Wyk (c, wkt), William Young (vc), Tom Bruce, Josh Clarkson, Mitchell Claydon,, Dane Cleaver, Marty Kain, Andrew Mathieson, Seth Rance, Jesse Ryder, Blair Tickner, George Worker, Adam Milne.
