It does not get much bigger for Hayes to get started than a blockbuster season-opener against arch-rival Bendigo at the MARS Minerdome.

And then the GMHBA Ballarat Miners have to back it up against their other nemesis, Geelong Supercats, on the road on Saturday night.

Hayes has been an assistant coach to David Flint the past two seasons and will keep Flint as an assistant and mentor.

“At this stage, I feel fine. I’m not one to get too worked up to things, until maybe the moment,” Hayes said.

“I’ve had other things to keep me busy, like to just get on with being a dad and doing other things in life outside basketball.

“...(Flint) has been fantastic and his knowledge of the game has been invaluable.

“Being a coach the last couple of years, he knows opposition players inside and out.”

Hayes said his team was shaping up well, with all but the injured Sean Massey (fractured foot) set to take the floor.

Fan favourite Roy Booker returns fit and fired up to play in his comeback from an Achilles injury he sustained in play against Geelong in late June.

Kris Blicavs will play his highly anticipated first game after a season sidelined to recover from a complex back injury.

Hayes said both Booker and Blicavs had been training and playing well in practice matches and were keen to get started with points at stake.

American Kodi Augustus will suit up for his first SEABL game since leaving the Minerdome with a fractured arm mid-way through the 2012 season.

Augustus played under then-coach Guy Molloy and plenty has changed since then – for Hayes, Augustus is a completely new player.

New Miner Everard Bartlett arrives with National Basketball League and international experience – he is a New Zealand Tall Black – and fans should note he arrives with some impressive slam dunk credentials.

Point guard Anthony Fisher was an unexpected signing last month.

Fisher spent the summer as a development player with Perth Wildcats but opted to bring his game back to Ballarat for fine-tuning in the SEABL.

Hayes said early indications had been Fisher would stay in Western Australia, close to the Wildcats, but Fisher was a very welcome addition in his home town.

melanie.whelan@fairfaxmedia.com.au

MINERS TEAM

Anthony Fisher 

Casey Marshall

Chris Smith

Dane Sisic 

Everard Bartlett

Jack Sullivan 

Kodi Augustus*

Kris Blicavs 

Liam Gibcus

Roy Booker*

Sean Massey

*restricted players