The other games in between are Canterbury Kings (October 29-November 1) at Hagley Park, in Christchurch, Volts (November 5-8) at University Oval, in Dunedin, and the Wellington Firebirds (November 14-17) at the Basin Reserve.
In "hitting the ground running", Malan has no qualms about playing red ball cricket before the McDonald's Super Smash Twenty20 format takes over from December 2 to the final on January 7.
The one-day Ford Trophy continues the white ball campaign from January 15 to February 18 before Plunket Shield resumes again from February 25 to March 29.
"Getting on the road is good rather than a bad thing," says Malan, mindful players will spend time away from home but knowing it will be a good time for collective bonding.
The William Young-captained Stags have good balance in a youthful side that has matured to a degree from last summer.
Black Caps left-hand top-order batsman George Worker is out of the team this weekend as he continues to nurse his left elbow. He has been ruled out of the next two to three rounds.
Manawatu right-hander Mitchell Renwick will seize the opportunity to replace Worker after making his debut early this year for the Stags.
"Mitch made a couple of 70s last season and he's been working on a few technical things over winter," says Malan.
He is always keen on variations but isn't too fussed about losing a left-hander to a right-hander because he believes bowlers are adept at asking questions of batsmen on either side of the stumps and, in some respects, that left-right combination thing is a yesteryear thing.
Young, in his rookie season as skipper, saw his side finish fifth in the six-team major association first-class competition last season. But they savoured putting a dent in the Auckland Aces' shield-winning campaign with a victory at McLean Park to end an unbeaten streak to mark captain Michael Bates' retirement.
CD opening batsman Ben Smith was the second highest run scorer in the format with 917 runs, which was the third highest in CD history below Martin Crowe (1348 runs) and another Ben Smith (939), an overseas import.
Smith's 61.13 average was below ND's Bharat Popli (1149, 67.58).
Malan is "over cautious" with seamers returning too early to be out with recurring injuries but he has the likes of ex-Cantabrian Ryan McCone, Seth Rance, Ben Wheeler, Andrew Mathieson and Blair Tickner to share the load.
Stags spinner Ajaz Patel, who was last season's top shield bowler with 43 scalps, offers a left-arm orthodox option.
Manawatu paceman Navin Patel is unavailable for two rounds because of his final university exams.
Malan says Saxton Oval has a new groundsman so a decision on which bowler misses out will be made after they inspect the wicket.
"Four will play and Ajaz will be the fifth spin option so we'll see what the deck looks like."
The intention is to put the best XI to claim 20 wickets over four days.
"One fast bowler will miss out," he says, relishing the scenario where everyone is challenging each other for a start.
Having watched his fifth one-day Chapple Cup tournament in Napier last weekend, Malan rates it the best in terms of skills.
Most batsmen tended to push and prod on moving wickets in their first outing on grass wickets but "smiling bowlers were talking to the ball a little".
It didn't miss Malan's attention that all Stags representing their inter-district teams played crucial roles in spearheading attacks.
A couple of young talents caught his eye as future prospects.
"The talent pool is growing so it's exciting."
CD STAGS: Tom Bruce, Dane Cleaver (wkt), Andrew Mathieson, Ryan McCone, Greg Hay, Ajaz Patel, Seth Rance, Mitchell Renwick, Ben Smith, Blair Tickner, Ben Wheeler, William Young (c).
Coach: Heinrich Malan.
