WHARFEDALE go into their game against second-placed Henley at The Avenue tomorrow optimistic that they can make major improvements on the result when the sides met earlier and even convert a 48-3 away defeat into a home win, (writes Tony Simpson).

At first glance, that seems a tall order for the Dalesmen, but Doncaster's 30-19 away win over the title challengers last weekend can only have fuelled confidence in the Greens' camp and dented Henley's self-assurance. The only concern for Wharfedale is that the Doncaster setback may provoke a backlash from Henley.

Defeat at Bracknell was a form-book success, but not only did Wharfedale go very close to upsetting the odds, but they also produced possibly their best display of the season, an effort which leaves morale very much intact as another tough assignment dawns.

"Last weekend was our best performance of the season in terms of everybody playing well for 80 minutes," says coach Peter Hartley. "It was very easy to temper our disappointment at not winning with the high quality of our performance. It was even better than the draw we achieved at Penzance because it was an all-round, 80 minutes affair, rather than a handful of purple patches."

That said, Hartley is well aware of what Henley can do and the size of tomorrow's challenge.

"They probably played their best game of the season against us and were very good," he says. "They won lots of second phase ball and used all the possession they claimed very well indeed. They are a good rucking pack and like to keep the ball moving. In the game down there were tried to take them on at their own game and it didn't work, but now I think we have more options.

"The pack is stronger now and everyone is singing from the same song-sheet. We don't need to play a loose game any more and we can be successful with a tighter strategy. We are much stronger in the areas where we were weak earlier in the season and I'm confident that this is a winnable game, even though they will be favourites.

"I think if we get in their faces and take them on, we can get the right result."

Before that happens, Hartley, Michael Harrison and skipper Andy Hodgson have to come up with the best line-up, a challenging task given the complexity of the injury situation.

The absence of Craig Eccleston is an obvious setback, given that the Settle player has been consolidating his position of late with some robust displays, but there is also uncertainty surrounding the fitness of David Whitfield, who has a back problem which may or may not be resolved by tomorrow.

On the credit side, Jonathan Davies is now back to full fitness, while Chris Malherbe has returned from South Africa and put himself back into the reckoning after a testing training session this week.

Specialist wingman Andy Lovatt also enters the equation, which centres on who will complete the three-quarter line alongside Andy Baggett and Gareth Johnston.

Up front, the pack effectively picks itself, with Philip Peel and Neil Dickinson starting in the propping berths and Craig Ingram on the bench. The final composition of the side will probably stay fluid until later fitness reports are made.