Former Leeds Rhinos star Gareth Ellis fears the combination of the absence of Lachie Miller and the ominous nature of Wigan Warriors’ rise to the League Leaders’ Shield means his old club’s wait to end their Grand Final glory drought will go on.

Rhinos host Warrington Wolves in the first play-off semi-final on Friday night with Wigan welcoming a Wakefield Trinity side with nothing to lose in the second last-four tie the following evening.

At stake is a place in the Grand Final at Old Trafford seven days later.

Rhinos haven’t won on the sport’s biggest stage since the last of their eight titles in 2017.

Playmaker: Lachie Miller of Leeds Rhinos conducts an attack in the recent game with Leigh Leopards. Former Rhino Gareth Ellis thinks they will miss his creativity in the play-offs.

placeholder image — Playmaker: Lachie Miller of Leeds Rhinos conducts an attack in the recent game with Leigh Leopards. Former Rhino Gareth Ellis thinks they will miss his creativity in the play-offs.

Wigan have won three times since then, including twice in the last three years, a run that came to an end against a Hull KR side determined to maximise their championship window 12 months ago.

The impetus is with the Warriors again after ambushing Leeds in the penultimate round of the regular season to snatch top spot.

Just as damaging that night was the hamstring injury sustained by Miller, Leeds’ 32-year-old Australian full-back.

Miller is arguably Leeds’ biggest threat, coming out top among his Super League peers for tackle busts with his barnstorming runs often requiring multiple opponents to bring him to his knees.

Gareth Ellis saw first hand from the Hull FC dugout just how badly Leeds Rhinos missed Gareth Ellis recently.

For Ellis - twice a Grand Final winner with Leeds in 2007 and 2008 - Miller’s absence could be too big a hurdle to overcome, something he witnessed from the Hull FC dugout as the Black and Whites inflicted a third straight home defeat on the Rhinos to end the season.

“I think losing Lachie Miller is a massive, massive loss for them,” said Ellis.

“I think we saw that the other night against Hull when they played against us.

“They missed him because he gives them a bit of a point of difference. I think with him on the field, they might have just scored another try that might have taken the game away from Hull.

“And Wigan look unstoppable at the minute, same old story.

“They don't stay away for long, do they? It's a really strong team, playing the best rugby at the right time of the year, including that impressive performance against Leeds.”

In the absence of Miller for Friday night’s home semi-final with a Warrington Wolves team that ruthlessly ended the successful Willie Peters era at Hull KR on Saturday night, Ellis believes Leeds have options, but need their big players to stand up.

“Ash Handley has been deputising at full-back. He's had such a good year at the centre that I think he probably missed a little bit of his strike in that position,” said Ellis, who was speaking at the Yorkshire Invitational celeb-am golf event at Ilkley.

“Whether Brad Arthur will make a few changes and maybe give the young lad, Fergus McCormack, a chance is yet to be seen, but Leeds have got some good players.

“Jake Connor’s probably underperformed the last couple of weeks, and he'll be disappointed with that, so you can expect a reaction and a bit of a bounce back from him as well this week.”