JESSE Dee could play his first minutes since the beginning of June when York Knights travel to fellow play-off hopefuls Widnes Vikings on Sunday afternoon (3pm).

The Australian centre has been sidelined with a bicep tear since their gutting 22-18 defeat against Allan Coleman's side - a match in which Taylor Pemberton, Charlie Severs and Ata Hingano all sustained injuries. 

Dee, who penned a new contract until the end of the 2025 season this summer, has averaged a try every two games since his move to North Yorkshire.

After taking part in the post-match sprint at Whitehaven last weekend, boss Mark Applegarth confirmed that the 29-year-old had returned to training, but it remains to be seen whether he will feature at the DCBL Stadium.

He replaces prop Conor Fitzsimmons, who has not featured since last month's historic win in Toulouse due to performance reasons, in the only change.

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

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York Valkyrie have named just a 19-player squad for Sunday's trip to title rivals Wigan Warriors (2:30pm), with director of rugby Lindsay Anfield opting to send six players to dual registration partners Sheffield Eagles.

However, they face the most notable of losses in captain, full-back Tara Jane Stanley, who suffered an ACL injury during the latter stages of last weekend's outstanding win at Leeds Rhinos.

Stanley, Bettie Lambert, Mahault Pommier and Georgia Taylor all drop out of the preliminary squad, though Lindsay Anfield does welcome back both hooker/half-back Remi Wilton and forward Jess Sharp.

York Valkyrie squad to face Wigan Warriors: Andrade, Bell, Brennan, Eastwood, Gentles, Hetherington, Izumi, Kershaw, Marshall, Owen, Pakulis, Parker, Partington, Renouf, Rihari, Sharp, Stimpson, Wilton, Wood.