Middle-order batsman George Worker, promoted to open in place of Smith in the second innings, left the field with a season-ending broken hand.
Manawatu rookie Mitch Renwick showed potential but this is an opportune time for in-and-out Robinson to put his hand up with Greg Hay and Smith, who is the second highest run scorer in the shield competition, still in the equation.
Seamer Liam Dudding, of Hawke's Bay, also comes into Malan's matrix after a solid display in the provincial side's six-wicket loss to Bay of Plenty in the Hawke Cup match in Napier at the weekend.
"Liam is someone we had identified during the Chapple Cup competition [late last October]," Malan said of Dudding who was 12th man in the last round but with Navin Patel and Kurt Richards unavailable he could be making his debut.
Like Robinson, he sees Dudding's chances as a window of opportunity through injuries.
ND and CD sit on equal 56 points in fourth and fifth places, respectively, on the table, with the net run rate favouring the hosts today. They will be without hamstrung strike bowler Scott Kuggeleijn, who is the highest wicket taker on 34 in the format, with CD spinner Ajaz Patel three behind.
Patel epitomises a summer where tweakers are up there with seamers as Jeetan Patel, Tarun Nethula, Todd Astle and Ish Sodhi push for honours.
Malan said Ajaz Patel had embraced his role well in a two-year project to recognise the variables of two innings in a match and what approach was required from day one to four in a first-class match.
"He has confidence in what to do and has taken ownership."
ND coach James Pamment said he had watched Patel closely in the past few games and his organisational skills stood out.
"He's been asking some difficult questions so it doesn't matter what type of surface he plays on he'll test the skill and patience of batsmen," said Pamment who said if Northern Districts won the toss they would consider factors such as cloud cover that would offer swing and prompt thoughts of bowling first.
He was mindful of Bracewell "returning home to ND".
"It doesn't matter if he's 50 per cent or 100 per cent, he's always a good bowler ..."
Pamment said ND were feeding off the buzz from BOP's Hawke Cup victory.
After the win, Brett Hampton got a recall to ND, which boasts five players from BOP, never mind those in the Black Caps squad.
Asked what was paramount in the game from today, ex-BOP coach Pamment replied: "We want to win."
Skycity Northern Knights v Devon Hotel Central Districts Stags for rd 8 of the Budget Rental Plunket Shield match at Seddon Park, Hamilton, from today:
ND KNIGHTS: Daniel Flynn (c, BOP), James Baker (Hamilton), Dean Brownlie (BOP), Anton Devcich (Hamilton), Zak Gibson (Waikato), Tony Goodin (BOP), Brett Hampton (BOP), Daryl Mitchell (Hamilton), Bharat Popli (BOP), Tim Seifert (wkt, Waikato), Joe Walker (Hamilton), BJ Watling (Hamilton).
CD STAGS: Will Young (c, Taranaki), Doug Bracewell (Hawke's Bay), Tom Bruce (Taranaki), Dane Cleaver (wkt, Manawatu), Liam Dudding (Hawke's Bay), Greg Hay (Nelson), Ajaz Patel (Hawke's Bay), Mitch Renwick (Manawatu), Dean Robinson (Taranaki), Bevan Small (Manawatu), Ben Smith (Wanganui), Blair Tickner (Hawke's Bay).
Coach: Heinrich Malan.
