Challenge Cup Preview: Catalan v York

Championship side York travel to Catalan for the first ever meeting between the two sides on Sunday.

York have already seen off one French opponent in this season’s Challenge Cup, having beaten Toulouse 30-28 at home in the fourth round.

They are likely to find the going much tougher in Perpignan, and will be without the dual-registered players they have been using throughout the season from Hull.

Both sides have suffered successive losses in the league, while Catalan will have their eyes on a repeat of 2007, when they reached the final.

The Dragons welcome back Louis Anderson and Daryl Millard, following their respective recoveries from injury.

But Laurent Frayssinous is still without Scott Dureau, Brent Webb, Olivier Elima, Julian Bousquet, Steve Menzies, Jason Baitieri and Frédéric Vaccari.

Catalan 19-man squad: Blanch, Pryce, Taia, Bosc, Henderson, Casty, Anderson, Mounis, Barthau, Maria, Pelissier, Larroyer, Millard, Pala, Simon, Fakir, Duport, Baile, Escare.

York 19-man squad: TBC

Prediction: The Dragons will be too strong for York – home win.