The Australian centre-back missed the draw with Southend and the vital win over Chesterfield in midweek after a red card in the draw at Dagenham.
And manager Alan Knill will have to decide whether to recall the experienced Downes or stick with Reading loanee Angus MacDonald.
Knill, whose side won for the first time in 12 games on Tuesday, will be without Billy Bodin once more as the Wales Under-21 winger remains on international duty.
And despite the games coming thick and fast, the former Scunthorpe boss is not thinking about fatigue.
"Sometimes you can allow people to believe they're tired, and we're trying not to do that," he told the Western Morning News.
"We've got fit athletes here, this is the most important time of the season and we're all paid to play games and win them. Instead of toning the training down, we're bringing it up."
Torquay welcome the Minstermen with a two-point cushion over Nigel Worthington's men.
