HARRY CARTER is set to make his long-awaited return from injury on Sunday as York City Knights go to North Wales Crusaders (2.30pm) looking to stay on the coattails of Betfred League One leaders Bradford Bulls.

Head coach James Ford is set to make three changes to the side that beat Workington Town last week - when they impressively bounced back from the disappointment at Whitehaven.

One of them sees Carter included as interchange hooker for the first time since suffering a bad knee injury away to Askam in the Challenge Cup in only the second game of the season back in February.

The 24-year-old has been on the fringes in the last two games and is now ready to put on the boots, likely to replace England Students international Will Jubb.

Ford said: "I'm happy with what Will's doing - he's still young and he's played the majority of our games and enhanced his reputation.

"But Harry is back fit and I want to have a look to see where he's at, as opposed to Will doing anything wrong.

"If we can get Harry match-fit and playing to a good level, he's a bonus for any side. His speed around dummy-half gives another dimension to our attacking game."

The other changes are enforced with Mike Kelly and Colton Roche ruled out with injury, replaced by dual-reg duo Jordan Walne and Josh Johnson. Walne had been set to play last week but was a late withdrawal due to illness.

Kelly injured an arm against Workington but, in good news for the club, is expected back in training as early as next week. Roche was touch and go this weekend but is not being risked.

Backs Will Dagger and Will Oakes remain on dual-reg.

Ronan Dixon is included in the 19-man squad, as is Jubb, but fellow front-rower Chris Siddons remains on the sick list.

On Kelly, Ford said: "We will see how it settles down but he's running and will probably do some non-contact training early next week with a view to pushing through on Thursday."

Sunday's game is the Knights' first on the road since the loss at Whitehaven. Asked if they were changing anything in preparation after the below-par performance on that last away day, Ford said: "We've played a number of away games this year and lost one. There's no need to panic about how we prepare or travel - that's nonsense.

"We will do what we do with every game. It's about making sure we hit our standards."

Meanwhile, North Wales have signed big prop Samir Tahraoui, who was released by Keighley Cougars last week, and re-signed Earl Hurst on loan from Championship outfit Rochdale. Both go straight into their squad this weekend.

Tahraoui joined York this time last year on loan from Rochdale but did not play for the team, partly due to injuries, before switching to Keighley over the winter.

He made four appearances for the Cougars in this second spell with the club, his last coming away to York in March, when he suffered a groin injury which ruled him out for two months.

He was sent off when he made his return in a reserves match against Halifax two and a half weeks ago, as he had been in Keighley's fiery friendly against Bradford back in February.

Also into the Crusaders' 19 are hooker Lee Hudson, Jake Knox and full-back Tom Johnson, with Gavin Conroy, Wellington Albert and veteran schemer Steve Roper all out from the side that lost to the Bulls last week.

Crusaders: from Smith, Johnson, Thompson, Trumper, Bloomfield, Lyons, Hudson, Houghton, Baker, Atherton, Walker, Bate, Dandy, Moore, Brennan, Hulme, Hurst, Tahraoui, Knox.

Knights (possible): Dagger, Oakes, Hey, Batchelor, Robson, Cockayne, C Robinson, Hawksworth, Ellis, Johnson, Walne, Scott, Spears, Carter, A Robinson, Horne, Porter, Jubb, Dixon.