CAPTAIN Paul Hughes, top prop Adam Sullivan and the returning Mark Applegarth are set to make their 2009 bows on Friday.

York City Knights take on Castleford in the Paul Higgins Memorial game at Huntington Stadium that night, and the first-team trio are set to link up with a youthful line-up having sat out the two previous friendlies against York Select and Hunslet.

New signing Richard Knight might also play if he passes fit following his shoulder operation. He has been in full training.

However, there is still no place for new three-quarter Wayne McHugh – although he is likely to be back in the reckoning for the Northern Rail Cup games.

McHugh was pencilled in to play against Hunslet but work commitments have prevented him from training.

Hughes will take the armband for the first time since being named the Knights’ team captain, while Sullivan and Applegarth – who, as exclusively revealed by The Press, re-signed at Huntington Stadium last week – are also set to start.

All three might also play again on Sunday when a strong Hull KR team come to York for the final friendly before York’s Northern Rail Cup opener against Whitehaven on February 8.

Cas are expected to bring an academy squad with a few fringe first-teamers on Friday.

Knights director of rugby James Ratcliffe said: “There will be a few lads who haven’t yet played having a run-out.

“Wayne will be back in full training with us on Monday. He’s had work commitments but he’s committed to what he’s doing here. He will have to work his way back into the team.”

Friday’s game (ko 8pm) is in honour of former Knights academy coach, North Yorkshire development chief and Cas player Higgins, who died at a York schools’ festival in October.