I think it can be quite easy to confuse the dead side, particuarly if you fly somewhere where it changes depending on the runway in use.
I like to work out the headings of all the circuit legs so I know what direction I will be going at any time, and then I should be flying the base heading as I cross the runway before starting my descent on the dead side (hope I've got that the right way around!!
).
Also, if I'm not completely happy about it, I sometimes just hold in the overhead while I finally check out what is going on.