Ready to rock and roll are batsmen William Young and George Worker, who are red and white ball merchants, respectively.
With Black Caps skipper Kane Williamson looking stranded in South Africa, as batsmen came and went around him like NZ Post customers amid a diet of short-pitched balls, there's little doubt something has to give.
It's no secret that the Zimbabwe junket was an open-net practice for a few warm fuzzies but South Africa exposed a soft underbelly soon after that will have snake charmers coercing cobras into performing the macarena from Uttar Pradesh to Andhra Pradesh during the September 22 to October 29 tour of three test matches and five ODIs.
Opener Martin Guptill's performance in the test arena has always come on the foundation of a smash-and-grab performance on the ODI stage. He doesn't have the credentials to play red-ball cricket, full stop.
You get the impression a test call-up for Guppy Two Toes is tantamount to a sweetener for the promise of white-ball accomplishments.
The smart money will be on retaining young Tom Latham, a batsman who has been shuffled from the middle order to open and back and who also has the ability to keep wickets in the face of BJ Watling's inability to hang around.
While former CD left-hander Jeet Raval is in the equation as opener, Young has consistently put his hand up as a top-order batsman domestically.
"Youngy has done really well with the red ball for the last couple of seasons and George has done that with the white ball," says Malan of Worker, a left hander who can do more than just tweak the ball to break partnerships.
"They are two guys who have the chance to move up, from a batting perspective."
He believes it's up to all the other Stags to show the hunger required to play for New Zealand.
"We'll be getting across the line to play in six weeks so it'll be happy days," he says before CD's opening Budget Rental Plunket Shield match.
That includes the country's fastest bowler, Adam Milne, and seamers Ben Wheeler and Seth Rance, who grappled with their share of injury demons last summer.
Soon after the India tour party is announced, New Zealand Cricket will release an inter-squad of teams to play each other at Lincoln, near Christchurch, in a series of white-ball matches.
Malan expects his "regular customers" to be in that equation to push their cases.
He say Otago Volts seamer Neil Wagner appeared to be a "horses for courses" choice but his pedigree was undeniable as he approaches Sir Richard Hadlee's record of 100 test scalps.
"He has made the third seamer's role his own."
The bowler was often left in the wilderness in the red-ball format and, some would argue, is putting his hand up to show the excitement he has in store with the new ball if Tim Southee and Trent Boult are looking lethargic.
Having a left-armer in Boult is imperative although right-hander Milne's pace will tickle - however, his test fitness will come under scrutiny especially on India's lifeless wickets that will be tailormade to offer turn after two innings.
Malan believes CD seamer Doug Bracewell has shown his durability and puts his hand up as the fourth seamer.
"With Dougie you always know what you'll get because he's persistent with his line and length and asks questions of batsmen," he says, emphasising the Taradale CC allrounder was unlucky when fielders grassed a couple of his deliveries in the draw and loss against the Proteas.
Malan reckons it's vital for Bracewell to establish himself as batsman at the No6 or No7 position to up the viability stakes.
