YORK City Knights will be without the suspended Danny Kirmond for Sunday's Betfred Championship play-off semi-final at Leigh Centurions (2pm).

Kirmond has been given a one-match ban for a Grade 'B' dangerous contact during York's 26-24 win over Halifax Panthers in the play-off quarter-finals on Sunday.

The back-rower was sin-binned less than three minutes into the clash at The Shay for a late hit on Halifax half-back Joe Keyes.

And the RFL's match review panel have now handed Kirmond a suspension for the tackle, which rules him out of Sunday's trip to Leigh.

A statement in the panel's minutes explained of the incident: "A defending player (Kirmond) makes contact with an opponent (Keyes) after the ball has been released by an opponent in a vulnerable position which causes flexion to the head, neck or spinal column on an attacking player, which poses an unacceptable risk of injury to that player."

During the end-of-term play-off period, unlike during the regular season, the ban kicks in for the following weekend. York have chosen not to appeal the decision.

The news of Kirmond's absence leaves another selection headache for head coach James Ford.

The Knights were already without eight players for the Halifax clash, in Will Oakes, Brendan O'Hagan, Masi Matongo, Pauli Pauli, Ronan Dixon, Brad Ward, Olly Butterworth and Ata Hingano.

Oakes, Matongo, Pauli, Butterworth and Hingano are out for the season and it remains to be seen whether O'Hagan, Dixon or Ward could feature at Leigh.

A bicep injury suffered by half-back Jamie Ellis in the first-half at Halifax, which saw him miss the final 50 minutes, is being assessed by the club in training tonight.