The jovial Wairarapa paceman agreed Black Caps batsman Tom Bruce, who was driving the team vehicle back from training yesterday, wasn't too far off his best form and would fill Ryder's void in the third round of the Burger King Super Smash T20 competition.
CD started their campaign with a loss to Auckland Aces and a five-wicket win over the Kings in Nelson but Rance emphasises they have scored 200-plus totals in both games.
"The batting's going well so we have a bloody good team with a lot of depth in our line up so we can attack and take the game to them again."
The 30-year-old, who was the highest joint wicket taker in the format last summer with 15 dismissals, took the scalp of both openers in each of his first two overs to finish with identical figures alongside first-change seamer Blair Tickner.
Wicketkeeper Dane Cleaver, he said, was among the best in the country and had eased into opening the batting in the one-day competition and could be an option to replace Ryder.
However, he suspected Hawke's Bay allrounder Christian Leopard, a former NZ under-19 rep who carried the drinks last round, might get the nod from CD coach Heinrich Malan.
"Christian's done it in white-ball cricket, so I wouldn't be surprised to see him in there to add to our options as well."
Rance expected fellow Black Cap seamer Ben Wheeler to offer some variety with his left-arm swingers.
He felt the William Young-captained Stags had covered all their bases, with Bevan Small also coming into form with the prized scalp of Stokes last weekend, and spinner Ajaz Patel requiring no introduction.
Asked if playing the Kings again on the bounce was ideal, Rance saw it as a "funny one" because both parties were familiar with what each was going to bring so, in some respects, that made it tough.
He didn't see the revolving door of talented Stags too-ing and fro-ing from international duties as having too much of an unsettling effect on their game plan.
Rance echoed the sentiments of Malan that the Stags were happy to see their teammates perform at the higher echelons.
"It was a great effort by Doug and one we all supported because he'd put in a lot of hard work and he's a world-class bowler," he said after a recalled Doug Bracewell claimed four wickets for the Black Caps against the touring Windies in Whangarei on Wednesday.
Rance said the T20 competition hadn't lost its impact on the players, who enjoyed the glitz and glamour that went with it.
"It's a great format to play so it's definitely one that we take seriously," he said after CD's gut-wrenching loss to the Wellington Firebirds in the final in New Plymouth.
"We did stuff it up last year so I think, quietly, everyone wants to make amends of that," he said, adding two wins from three games today would add impetus to their push for a title.
He said while CD hadn't had a look at the oval wicket for today they tended to bat first if the coin rolls their way.
Rance also relishes a renewed vigour in fatherhood after wife Suzannah gave birth to their second son, 3-week-old Baxter. Their other son is 2-year-old Lachie.
"It's nice to have that because you're not focused on cricket all the time so it's good to be able to go home to have that family life where I have two boys to look after," he said.
Malan said it was a great window of opportunity at this stage to grant Ryder the freedom to make that transition from Wellington to his former cricketing hometown.
"It's a good thing because it'll mean he'll relocate to Napier so it's something we've pushed really hard for.
"I'm really excited for that to happen in the next couple of days because that'll mean we can have him around more often."
He reinforced Rance's speculation that Cleaver could shuffle up to open or Leopard, who opens for CD A, could be the other option.
Bruce, he said, added to that X factor of batting with profitable returns perhaps around the corner.
Having tasted international cricket this year, an explosive Bruce, Malan said needed to focus on the Stags' day-to-day routines and "the rest of will take care of itself".
BOTH TEAMS
■ CD STAGS: William Young (c), Tom Bruce, Dane Cleaver (wk), Joshua Clarkson, Ben Wheeler, Adam Milne, Bevan Small, Ben Smith, Blair Tickner, Ajaz Patel, Navin Patel, Christian Leopard.
■ CANTERBURY KINGS: Nick Kwant, Chad Bowes, Matthew Pollard, Ben Stokes, Cole McConchie, Andrew Ellis (c), Cameron Fletcher (wk), Tim Johnston, William Williams, Blake Coburn, Andy Hazeldine, Jeremy Benton.
Note: With major associations imposing embargos until midday on match days, both teams may differ in composition.
