JAMIE ELLIS, Levi Edwards and Bailey Antrobus have returned to the York City Knights preliminary squad for Sunday's Betfred Championship play-off quarter-final at Halifax Panthers (5.30pm).

York head into the play-offs with at least eight players missing but, should they be fit to feature, are boosted by the recalls of Ellis, Edwards and Antrobus.

The Knights are optimistic that Leeds Rhinos loanee Edwards will be fit enough for a spot in the centres, having missed the last six matches through injury.

The 18-year-old has not started since July’s 27-18 win over Newcastle Thunder in the Summer Bash, having managed only 10 appearances this season.

Ellis and Antrobus were both absent from Sunday’s 74-12 thrashing of Workington Town and, having been deemed to have “outside chances” of appearing at The Shay by head coach James Ford on Thursday, have now been named in the 20-player squad.

With Brendan O’Hagan and Ata Hingano missing through quad and ankle injuries respectively, Ellis is set to partner Liam Harris at half-back, should he prove his fitness in training this week.

Ellis has struggled for form this season and has fallen down the pecking order in the halves over the past couple of months.

The 32-year-old has played just one of York’s last nine matches, last month’s 100-4 rout at runaway division leaders Leigh Centurions.

Should he pass the fitness tests on his hamstring problem, Antrobus would add some size to York’s forward pack, which included debutant Ben Barnard, on trial from amateur club Heworth, last week against Workington.

Dropping out of the Knights squad are O’Hagan and outside back Brad Ward, the latter nursing a shoulder injury.

The pair join Will Oakes (groin), Masi Matongo (shoulder), Pauli Pauli (ACL), Ronan Dixon (Achilles), Olly Butterworth (ACL) and Hingano on the sidelines.

York City Knights squad: Marsh, Brown, Glover, Ogden, Ellis, Jubb, Teanby, Clarkson, Thompson, Stock, Kirmond, Harris, Harrison, Towse, Michael, Edwards, Antrobus, Porter, Inman, Barnard.