Great Britain star Keith Senior scored only the second hat-trick of his career to inspire Leeds to an impressive Super League play-off victory over Hull.

Senior's scores helped the Rhinos to set up an elimination semi-final against Wigan or Castleford next Friday.

His first try was a spectacular 90-metre effort that owed much to the brilliance of loose forward Kevin Sinfield.

Hull had gambled on the fitness of their skipper Jason Smith, but he lasted only until the interval, by which time they were trailing 18-4.

The visitors dominated the opening exchanges, forcing three goal-line drop-outs in the first 11 minutes, but had only two penalty goals from Graham Mackay to show for their efforts.

Leeds managed to keep their line intact and, buoyed by the storming runs of Barrie McDermott, Matt Adamson and Danny Ward, began to unpick a Hull defence that conceded 90 points in their last two visits to Headingley.

After Senior's wonder try, his captain Francis Cummins scored and then stand-off Ben Walker added a third touchdown before the break.

Hull began the second half as they had the first, but they were made to pay for missing scoring chances.

Senior took Andy Hay's pass in his stride to power over for his second score and, soon afterwards, speedy right winger Mark Calderwood raced on to Sinfield's kick to the line for a fifth try.

Although former Leeds hooker Lee Jackson pulled one back for Hull on 56 minutes, the home side, and particularly Senior, were simply irrepressible.

Jackson then scored a bizarre try by hoodwinking the officials.

Hull were awarded a penalty in their own half and two balls arrived on the pitch. While one was used for the penalty, Jackson hid the other behind his back.

As he raced downfield to the point where Hull would have restarted play, he brought the second ball in front of him, tapped it with his foot and raced through unopposed to score.

The referee consulted his bemused line judge and then awarded the try much to the disgust of Leeds coach Daryl Powell, who had seen Jackson's piece of trickery.

Leeds: Cummins, Calderwood, C. Walker, Senior, Mathers, B Walker, Sheridan, Ward, Diskin, McDermott, Hay, Adamson, Sinfield. Replacements: McGuire, Poching, Burrow, McDonald.

Hull: R Horne, Raynor, Kohe Love, Mackay, Prescott, Cooke, T Smith, Greenhill, Jackson, Logan, Maher, Ryan, J. Smith. Replacements: Poucher, Parker, Fletcher, King.

Referee: Russell Smith (Castleford).