With his league-leading 35.18 points per game average Gray hasn’t just been the Miners’ best in 2018 he was easily one of the Waratah Youth League second division’s finest performers, but he’s in the US now.

Obviously, the Bathurst outfit will need to find a way to make up those points – not to mention rebounds, steals, assists and just about every other facet of the game Gray has dominated – if its to build on its promising start to the season, the side is sixth through 11 rounds.

That has to start this weekend with one of the competition’s toughest trips, to Hornsby’s hardwood – nicknamed the Brickpit – to face the Spiders Green outfit .

Bathurst coach Andrew Osborn is calling on his troops to lift in Gray’s absence - especially his big men in the paint – but also improve in general after an unconvincing win over Moss Vale last weekend.

“The other guys are going to have to become that much more physical and want the ball more. Offensively we’ve got to play smarter than what we’ve been playing, and taking a shot we’re able to do,” he said.

“That wasn’t happening on Saturday. Our shot selection was abysmal.”

Goldminers took down Hornsby Spiders prior to their match against Moss Vale but the match against the club’s Green outfit is going to be a big step up.

Osborn said his players are eager to lift their game in a bid to cause the upset.

“Harry Betts, in the last couple of weeks, his game has gone up two or three notches. Anai (Mathiang) is another who needs to step up, and if those two players do then there’s guys like James Gogala, who plays the four quite well, and Aiden Allen who can fill that role,” he said.

“We have players to fill [Gray’s] spot. It’s just a matter of them using their heads a little more and realising that they can play well if their mind is in the right place.

“It’s going to be tough for us for a few weeks but hopefully we can get the job done. Saturday is going to be a big test for us.

“Hopefully the game against Moss Vale was just one of those days. You’ll have those patches where you’re not at your best, but I don’t want too many more of them.

“We’ll try and get to the bottom of why it happened and move on from there. 

“It was like what (assistant coach) Ben (Slater) and I said to [the Goldminers players] during the game, that we can’t fix this and it’s up to you.”

The Goldminers are currently on a three game winning run, and have won five of their last six games, Saturday’s trip could be a chance for the side to strike against a quality opponent.

Hornsby Spiders Green boast a 10-2 record and trail only the Shoalhaven Tigers in terms of the standings but both of their losses have come in their past three matches.

However, the Spiders are yet to lose at the Brickpit. They’re hunting for their eighth straight win at home. Saturday’s clash starts at 5pm.