STAR winger Chris Smith is in the running for a York City Knights return against Hunslet on Sunday but must first overcome a late fitness test on his troublesome knee.

The 28-year-old, who missed the second half of last season with knee ligament damage, has been ruled out since suffering a different knee injury in the Challenge Cup game at Sheffield February 29.

A recall for the former St Helens Super League winner would be timely this week as fellow flier Alex Godfrey pulled a hamstring in the win over Chorley on Monday and looks set to miss out this weekend.

Coach Richard Agar has fellow wingers Rob Kama and Scott Walker raring to go and faces a difficult selection poser should Smith come through.

Prop Andy Burland is set to start for the first time since rejoining the club and, although fellow front-rower Dan Briggs is still out with a hamstring pull, Agar otherwise has a strong squad to choose from, with Aussie centre Aaron Wood back available and fighting for one of two places on the bench alongside Mick Ramsden, John Smith, Mark Stewart and new signing Richard Wilson, assuming Jim Elston and Craig Forsyth retain their substitute shirts.

KNIGHTS probable: Graham, Walker/Smith, Langley, Cain, Kama/Godfrey, Rhodes, Brough, Burland, Jackson, Sozi, Callaghan, Friend, Ball. Subs from: Elston, Forsyth, Wilson, Stewart, Wood, J Smith, Ramsden.

HUNSLET: from Hall, Taylor, Cook, McGibbon, Deakin, Wood, Tawhai, Doherty, Pryce, Wray, Coyle, Freeman, Ibbetson, Liddell, Freeman, Shillabeer, Hawley, Jarvis, Fearon, Bastow.

Updated: 10:28 Saturday, April 17, 2004