FOLLOWING their sixth successive league defeat and with an injury list that gets longer by the week Otley are going to have to have to dig in if they are to avoid relegation from National One.

Coach Peter Clegg however remains optimistic that his squad has the battling qualities to retain their status and feels the supporters can do a lot to help his team.

He also feels confident that if he can get some of his injured players back they will win enough games to avoid the drop.

"It has been an uphill fight for us but we always knew it would be as we are in a very competitive league and only have a small squad. The injuries have obviously made our task a lot more difficult."

Upcoming games against fellow basement clubs Sedgley Park, Moseley and Waterloo all need to be won if Otley are to maintain their status.

Saturday sees the first of those when Otley host Sedgley Park (2.15pm) and Clegg said: "Everyone knows we have been hit with horrific injury problems but we have continued to play good rugby and noone can fault the endeavour or commitment of the lads.

"The supporters have a vital role to play in our battle. They all need to be right behind us and give us a lot of vocal support. They have to understand our problems and give us their full support.

"We have a small squad compared to the other clubs in our league and we don't have the funds to go out and replace players. I have to play players who are not fully fit and players have to play out of position due to our situation so they need all the support they can get."

Clegg's side made a reasonable start to the season notching wins over Nottingham, Sedgley Park, Moseley and Waterloo by mid-October. A fantastic morale boosting win over Cornish Pirates in mid-November seemed set to keep Otley on a par with last season's ninth place finish but then disaster struck.

As well as several players breaking bones they have also have soldier Steve Trethewey and RAF Fl. Lt Howard Parr sometimes called away to serve their country.

With Dave Whitehead in New York on business, Dan Hyde calling off sick and Parr added to the injured list things were looking bleak before Saturday's clash at London Welsh. However, the latest blow came after the match with Doncaster recalling loan signing Steve Barretto.

All the problems however are put into perspective by the illness suffered by Samoan back row forward Maifea Maifea.

Clegg said: "He was a fantastic signing for us but then he was taken ill with a suspected brain tumour. He was operated on just before Christmas and fortunately it was benign. He is expected to be out of action for another six months but he has been given a big boost by being selected for the Samoan World Cup squad. That will give him a great incentive in his recovery."

Club secretary Marc Lawrence said: "It has been an horrendous season for injuries. I don't think Simon Binns will play again this season, Paul Williams has a broken leg, Paul Mooney is still out with a break, Howard Parr has achilles trouble, Matt Stockdale and Justin Wring have knee injuries and Scott Connor has a shoulder injury.

"We got Nathan Bland back after injury last Saturday but then lost Scott Connor and now with Baretto recalled things do not look good.

"On the positive side we will have the two boys from Newcastle Falcons to help us and we have taken over the contract of Doncaster Knights' Jon Benson so he will be with us for the rest of the season."

The upcoming National Cup game at North Walsham is a fly in the ointment Otley really do not need at this stage and Lawrence said they may well take a lot of second teamers to the Norfolk outpost.

"The focus after all is staying in this division," he said.

Clegg added: "We have to be realistic, we are not going to win this cup and our priority has got to be concentrating on staying in National One. If that means resting some of our players who are carrying injuries then we will do."