Both York Knights and Hull KR have locked in their preliminary squads for Friday's Challenge Cup third round showdown - with both pulling no punches.

Mark Applegarth welcomes back influential full-back Will Dagger after passing his concussion protocols. The former Robin replaces centre Joe Law, who is ruled out with a knock, in the only change from last weekend's 72-12 rout of Keighley Cougars.

Brad Ward, Jacques O'Neill and Kieran Hudson all miss out with hamstring injuries likely to keep them sidelined until at least April.

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Meanwhile, plenty of eyes will be on KR half-back, and reigning Man of Steel, Mikey Lewis as he makes his return to the city.

The England international scored four tries and one goal in a hugely successful six-match loan spell from the Robins in 2021 - including in the 1895 Cup final at Wembley.

Willie Peters' squad is much-changed from the one that the Knights beat in Amsterdam last month, with only Jack Broadbent, Kelepi Tanginoa, Jack Brown and Bill Leyland keeping their places.

Off-season signings Tom Davies, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Micky McIlorum and Rhyse Martin could all make their debuts.

York Knights to face Hull KR: Dagger, Brown, Buchanan, Hingano, Harris, Martin, McShane, Santi, Dee, Bailey, Thompson, Pemberton, Teanby, Gannon, Cook, Field, Fitzsimmons, Edwards, Reynolds, Harrison, Ferreira.

Hull KR to face York Knights: Evalds, Davies, Hiku, Gildart, Burgess, Lewis, May, Sue, Litten, Waerea-Hargreaves, Hadley, Batchelor, Minchella, McIlorum, Luckley, Whitbread, Martin, Broadbent, Tanginoa, Brown, Leyland.