OUTSIDE back Tom Lineham is in contention to make his first appearance for York Knights in over three months at Whitehaven on Sunday afternoon (3pm).

The 32-year-old, who returned for a third spell at the Knights on the eve of the Betfred Championship season, had initially been ruled out for the remainder of the campaign with a pectoral tear.

But he appears to have recovered quicker than expected, and after cheering York on from the stands against Batley last week, could be set for his first minutes since May's 40-18 thrashing of Halifax Panthers.

He is one of two changes to Mark Applegarth's 21-man squad, with hooker turned half-back Taylor Pemberton also back in contention.

Half-back Nikau Williams is set to make his 100th career appearance against former club Whitehaven on Sunday.Half-back Nikau Williams is set to make his 100th career appearance against former club Whitehaven on Sunday. (Image: Craig Hawkhead Photography)

They replace Will Dagger, who has been ruled out with a calf injury, and industrious forward Jordan Thompson, who serves the first of a two-match ban as a result of his sin-bin for a high tackle in Toulouse a fortnight ago.

Nikau Williams, likely to reprise his partnership with Ata Hingano in the halves against his former club, is in line to make his 100th career appearance - over half of which have come for Whitehaven.

York Knights squad to face Whitehaven: Antrobus, Bailey, Brown, Cunningham, Daley, Field, Fitzsimmons, Gannon, Hingano, Jubb, Law, Lineham, Martin, Michael, Pemberton, Reynolds, Santi, Teanby, Towse, Ward, Williams.

York Valkyrie welcome back their own long-term absentee, powerful forward Rhiannion Marshall, for Sunday's trip to Betfred Women's Super League title rivals Leeds Rhinos (12pm).

Turning out at both prop and loose forward across the league campaign, she last played competitively in May's Betfred Women's Super League semi final defeat to St Helens in Doncaster.

Lindsay Anfield has also welcomed back prop Alex Stimpson from a knee injury, but experienced centre Carrie Roberts is unavailable due to her commitments with the Army.

Lisa Parker continues her run in the side after having impressed for both the Valkyrie and dual registration partners Sheffield Eagles, alongside fellow rising stars Izzy Brennan, Eva Izumi, who return after trips to Cambodia and Japan respectively.

York Valkyrie squad to face Leeds Rhinos: Andrade, Bell, Brennan, Eastwood, Gentles, Hetherington, Izumi, Kershaw, Lambert, Marshall, Owen, Pakulis, Parker, Partington, Pommier, Renouf, Rihari, Stanley, Taylor, Wood.