Gray has lost the services of his two first-choice wing-backs in Kyle Walker and Liam Davis for the trip to the south coast, but he isn't overly concerned.
Walker has returned to Sheffield United after a highly-impressive loan spell at Sixfields, wh
ile Davis is suspended after picking up five bookings.
It's a situation that might cause many managers a real headache, but Gray simply said: "We are just going to have to tinker with the shape of the team that's all.
"I have always said to my players that once you have got hold of the shirt, you have to keep hold of it.
"Losing Kyle will give somebody else the opportunity to come in, as will the fact Liam Davis is out suspended."
Players such as Liam Dolman, Andy Holt and loan man Kurt Robinson – still waiting for his debut for the club after signing from Ipswich – will be hoping for first-team calls.
And Gray has urged whoever does get the nod to play at the Withdean, will stake a claim to keep their place for the following week's date with Huddersfield Town.
He particularly wants whoever replaces the in-form Davis to shine, and said: "Liam has probably got suspended for the right reasons, picking up five bookings for five tackles
"But he now finds himself out of the team, and hopefully he will now find it hard to get back into the team."
The Cobblers players have a day off tomorrow before training as normal on New Year's Day, and then travelling down to Brighton on Friday.
