WHARFEDALE may be second from bottom in National League One but they are not thinking defensively as they enter the new year.

The Green Machine, who are at fourth-placed Esher on Saturday, are stressing their attacking potential.

"It has been a difficult first half of the season, and we would have liked to have been in a better position," admitted Wharfedale coach Tom McGee.

"But we know that there is nothing wrong with our morale and spirit, and everything that needs to be right in that sense is right.

"We have a heavy injury list but we have a good squad, we have players coming back over the next few weeks and we are going into 2016 looking to attack.

"Dan Tai, Matt Dudman, Joe Altham and Chris Steel should all be back on duty soon and hat will not only increase competition for places but should also ensure that the players who are playing perform.

"There is also good news about our talisman, leader and X-Factor player James Doherty.

"His MRI scan has come back all clear and he can start training again as soon as he is symptom free.

"Once he stops having headaches, he can start the return-to play-protocol, but Philip Woodhead has gone a great job in his absence and has given us a spark."

McGee added: "What we need to do know is stop making mistakes in our half and improve our game management, such as when to take the three points and when to kick for the corner.

"But the highlight of the season so far for me is not so much one game but the way that we have stayed together and played together."

As for preparations for the Esher match, McGee said: "It has been difficult because players such as students have been all over the country at this time of year, which has affected our time together, but we will have a strong group to go down there."

One thing that will give the visitors some encouragement is that Esher have already lost three times at home in 2015-16 – 27-16 to Ampthill on the opening day of the season, 20-17 against Rosslyn Park on November 14 and 22-14 against Darlington Mowden Park on December 12.

However, Esher won 46-26 at The Avenue on September 12.

Wharfedale, meanwhile, have won two games on their travels – 43-13 against Blaydon on September 19 and 16-15 against Hull Ionians on December 12.

Only four points separate the bottom four, with basement boys Cinderford on 18, Wharfedale on 21 and Henley and Blaydon, who each have a game in hand, on 22.