Barking's Andrew Henderson (centre) believes that the side can beat the drop

The 24-year-old feels Barking will be underestimated.

Centre Andrew Henderson hopes teams will continue to underestimate Barking as they look to avoid the drop from National One.

A summer signing from Jersey, Henderson has been one of few positives to emerge from the campaign so far.

And after helping Barking to pull off a 20-19 win over Fylde last weekend – their first in 11 games to pull them off the bottom of the league – the 24-year-old hopes their underdog status will help them defy the odds come the end of the season.

“Teams can make all the excuses they want, but I think Fylde probably came here and underestimated us,” he said.

“A few teams will do that and hopefully we can kick-on from here and have a good crack at keeping us in this league.

“Everyone knows the position we are in at the moment and it isn’t ideal, but we are all here and in it together ready to give it our all.”

And with other clubs struggling, notably Cambridge, after they were forced to axe director of rugby Bob Crooks and several players in a cost-cutting measure last week, Henderson hopes the luck will now turn in Barking’s favour.

“With the positions of some of the other teams in this league financially, there are others struggling as well and hopefully we can get that little bit of luck and things will start to go our way,” he added.

After a week’s break, Barking will return to action in a crucial match at bottom side Birmingham & Solihull on February 11.