BOTH the York Knights and York Valkyrie have named their preliminary squads ahead of this Sunday’s double-header at the LNER Community Stadium.

The Knights will be looking to maintain their positive start under Head Coach Mark Applegarth, with two wins from their opening three, whilst being keen to right the wrongs of last Sunday’s 18-10 defeat to promotion-chasing Sheffield Eagles.

Barrow Raiders are the visitors to the LNER Community Stadium (3pm), with the travelling side hoping to avoid a fourth defeat in five matches after failing to register a point in a 36-0 loss to Wakefield Trinity last weekend.

Head Coach Applegarth has named one change to his 21-man squad, with the inclusion of forward AJ Towse after recovering from injury.

Towse replaces Jack Potter in the preliminary squad, whilst Rugby League World’s Betfred Championship Player of the Month Ata Hingano remains eager to continue his impressive form.

YORK KNIGHTS: 12. Bailey, 2. Brown, 40. Cook, 21. Cunningham, 1. Dagger, 19. Daley, 11. Field, 10. Fitzsimmons, 38. Gannon, 7. Harris, 22. Hingano, 9. Jubb, 4. Keinhorst, 17. Michael, 30. Reynolds, 16. Santi, 15. Teanby, 13. Thompson, 5. Towse, 28. Ward, 14. Williams

Lindsay Anfield’s Valkyrie are back in action this weekend after their long break, with a number of key players returning from international duty.

The Valks will welcome Barrow Raiders Ladies to the LNER Community Stadium (12pm), with their squad being reinforced by the returns of Georgie Hetherington, Eboni Partington and Liv Wood from international duty.

Hetherington made and scored on her England debut, whilst Partington also found her way onto the scoresheet for her country.

Former Canada Ravens co-captain Megan Pakulis is in line to make her debut after joining York two weeks ago, whilst Kelsey Gentles and Tamzin Renouf remain long-term injury concerns.

Tara Jane Stanley and Hetherington have successfully recovered from injuries during the five-week break, whist newest addition Mahault Pommier comes straight into the Valkyrie’s squad to make an early impact.

YORK VALKYRIE: Andrade, Bell, Eastwood, Gale, Hetherington, Izumi, Kershaw, Marshall, Pakulis, Partington, Pommier, Rihari, Sexton, Sharp, Stanley, Stimpson, Taylor, Wilton, Wood