Former Melbourne captain Glenn Lazarus has dismissed Bulldogs playmaker Braith Anasta's hopes of playing in Sunday's NRL semi-final, and predicted his old club could repeat its 1999 premiership success.

Lazarus, who broke his sternum in 1990 while playing for Canberra, refused to believe Anasta could recover in time for the Aussie Stadium elimination final.

"I think he'll be struggling and that's from someone who still has a coil of wire in his chest from sternum injury," said Lazarus, who led the Storm to its maiden premiership five years ago.

"They're very difficult injuries to disguise and play with, even if they are needled.

"It looked like he (Anasta) was in a fair bit of pain last weekend so I'm sure he won't be 100 per cent."

Lazarus said he was extremely doubtful whether Anasta could handle the pain of a sternum injury in a high-contact sport like rugby league.

"I think Braith Anasta's probably in a little more trouble than what they (the Bulldogs) are alluding to," said the 38-year-old Lazarus.

"You ask anyone with sternum problems. They're just very, very nasty injuries.

"Coughing and sneezing puts you in an absolute cold sweat with pain. If he's had a pretty good knock on it, he'd be in a little bit of trouble."

Lazarus said the disruption of a new halves partner for `Dogs halfback Brent Sherwin - probably Johnathan Thurston - would be a massive filip for the Storm.

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