BOTH Leigh Leopards and York Knights have been handed player boosts ahead of Friday night’s clash at the Progress With Unity Stadium.
Adrian Lam makes one change following last week’s ‘Battle of the Borough’ defeat to Wigan.
Hooker Edwin Ipape returns after completing his concussion protocols, replacing prop Lazarus Vaalepu.
Meanwhile, York show three changes from last week’s thrilling win over St Helens.
Jesse Dee returns after being hospitalised with a leg infection and David Nofoaluma after completing his concussion protocols, whilst Will Dagger is recalled to the squad after featuring for partners Newcastle Thunder last weekend.
Captain Liam Harris, Newcastle loanee Andy Djeukessi and Matty English – ruled out for the remainder of the season with an ACL injury – all drop out.
SQUADS
Leopards: 1 David Armstrong, 4 Umyla Hanley, 5 Josh Charnley, 6 Adam Cook, 7 Lachlan Lam, 8 Joe Ofahengaue, 9 Edwin Ipape, 10 Robbie Mulhern, 12 Owen Trout, 13 Isaac Liu, 15 Jacob Alick-Wiencke, 16 Matt Davis, 17 Liam Horne, 19 Innes Senior, 21 Gareth O’Brien, 22 Jack Hughes, 23 Andy Badrock, 24 Ben McNamara, 25 Louis Brogan, 28 Ryan Brown, 29 Will Brough
Ins: 9 Edwin Ipape
Outs: 31 Lazarus Vaalepu
Knights: 1 Toa Mata’afa, 4 Sam Wood, 5 Scott Galeano, 6 Ata Hingano, 8 Jack Martin, 9 Paul McShane, 10 Paul Vaughan, 12 Jesse Dee, 13 Jordan Thompson, 14 Denive Balmforth, 15 Xavier Va’a, 16 Justin Sangaré, 20 Oli Field, 21 Kieran Buchanan, 23 Jon Bennison, 24 Will Dagger, 26 Nikau Williams, 27 Matty Foster, 37 Cody Hunter, 46 David Nofoaluma, 48 Tom Inman
Ins: 12 Jesse Dee, 24 Will Dagger, 46 David Nofoaluma
Outs: 7 Liam Harris, 33 Andy Djeukessi, 49 Matty English
Referee: James Vella
STATS
Last ten meetings:
York 6, Leigh 18 (SLR8, 17/4/26)
York 14, Leigh 34 (CCQF, 18/6/23)
Leigh 70, York 10 (Ch-SF, 25/9/22)
Leigh 100, York 4 (ChR24, 21/8/22)
York 4, Leigh 40 (ChR4, 20/2/22)
Leigh 34, York 0 (ChR3, 16/2/20)
Leigh 23, York 24 (ChR26, 1/9/19)
York 9, Leigh 8 (ChR5, 3/3/19)
(at Bootham Crescent)
Leigh 42, York 20 (ChR17, 23/6/13)
York 4, Leigh 52 (ChR13, 5/5/13)
(at Huntington Stadium)
Super League summary
Leigh won 1
York won 0
Leigh highest score: 18-6 (A, 2026) (also widest margin)
York highest losing score: 6-18 (H, 2026)
JACK HUGHES needs one appearance to reach 100 for Leigh Leopards.
– First spell: 2013, dual-registration, 1 appearance
– Debut: Featherstone Rovers (h) (Ch) (L23-8) (Centre) (1 June, 2013)
– Second spell: 2023-2026, 98 appearances
– Second debut: Salford Red Devils (h) (SL) (L20-10) (Substitute, 1 penalty try) (17 February, 2023)
Leigh’s JOSH CHARNLEY needs one try to move ahead of MICK SULLIVAN into stand-alone 20th place in the list of all-time scorers in the British game.
19 Paul Newlove 347
20 = Mick Sullivan 342
= Josh Charnley 342
22 Garry Schofield 330
23 Shaun Edwards 327