APART from being in a relegation fight for a third successive season, despite dropping down to National League Two North, the other worrying trend for Wharfedale this campaign has been the decline in attendances.

But while they aim to prevent Otley from doing the double over them, with the Cross Greeners having triumphed 39-27 in September to start their unbeaten record there, the Greens will not have to fret over the numbers through 'the turnstiles' on Saturday.

While crowds have generally been above 500 in the last two seasons, when they have been battling to stay in National League One, they have dropped to the 400s and below in 2016-17 in the fourth tier.

But this derby, with Wharfedale second from bottom and desperate for a win, and Otley having only notched one victory away from home (against Sheffield Tigers) this season, has a genuine 'don't know what to expect' feel about it.

This unknown factor and the proximity to Christmas is set to draw in the punters, with Wharfedale's chairman of rugby Michael Harrison saying: "We are expecting a full house, and we could have as many spectators supporting Otley as there are supporting Wharfedale."

One thing Wharfedale don't want to happen is for their tackling to let them down, as it did during their 59-12 defeat at clinical Caldy last Saturday and their 29-19 home setback against Sheffield Tigers in October.

The Greens are without fly half Tom Barrett, who is in Poland on business, so Jamie Guy returns at No 10, while Scott Jordan (full back), Phil Woodhead (scrum half) and Elliott Ward (lock) are all promoted from the bench, with Harry Bullough switching from full back to centre, and Jimmy Bullough and Andy Hodgson dropping to the bench.

Peter Clegg, director of rugby for ninth-placed Otley, said: "It should be a fantastic game and we have a lot of admiration for Wharfedale, who stayed in National League One for 20 years.

"They may not quite be what they were but we are taking nothing for granted. Playing them on their pitch presents its own problems and challenges but it is a good forecast, so both teams will want to play open rugby, and there should be a big crowd and we are very much looking forward to it."

Kick-off is at 2pm, and one of the sideshow attractions will be the raffle of a wheelbarrow full of goodies.

Wharfedale (home to Otley): S Jordan; R Davidson, H Bullough, T Davidson, O Cicognini; J Guy, P Woodhead; J Altham, D Stockdale, T Aseyevs, R Rhodes, E Ward, G Hedgley, J Burridge, T Whyte. Replacements: I Larkin, J Huck, A Howard, J Bullough, A Hodgson.