Plan to go behind the aircraft already on the downwing leg? Even if this means you end up going 'upwind' (If you see what I mean)?
I'd plan to go behind if they were already on downwind..... I'd also be keeping an ear open and eyes open to other traffice from when I commenced the join...so hopefully should have a good picture of what is going on.
If it all goes to !!!!!e you could break away in the direction of circuit traffic back to the "dead side" and start again assuming there is no one else joining overhead
