YORK Knights' Liam Harris is set to make his return in their Betfred Challenge Cup Fifth Round tie against Newcastle Thunder on Friday night (7:30pm).

The influential half-back missed last weekend's 16-6 Betfred Championship defeat at Halifax Panthers under the RFL's Return to Play protocol, having failed a head injury assessment after receiving a boot to the face in the act of scoring his try against Keighley Cougars on Good Friday.

With stand-in half-back partner Matty Marsh also absent after picking up a knock in training, head coach Andrew Henderson was forced to play the returning James Cunningham alongside Leeds Rhinos loanee Oli Field, though both performed admirably.

Harris is the only change to the Knights' preliminary squad this week in place of the injured Ata Hingano, with second-rower Danny Kirmond serving the second of his three-match suspension.

Henderson expects that the versatile Jesse Dee will return against London Broncos next week, while Conor Fitzsimmons, Pauli Pauli and Levi Edwards remain long term absentees.

Full Knights squad to face Newcastle Thunder:

Bailey Antrobus

Connor Barley

Ben Barnard

Joe Brown

Chris Clarkson

James Cunningham

Josh Daley

Oli Field

James Glover

Liam Harris

Myles Harrison

Will Jubb

Jon Luke Kirby

Matty Marsh

Ronan Michael

Harry Price

Ukuma Ta'ai

Jack Teanby

Jordan Thompson

AJ Towse

Brad Ward