"Gary Sheffield wasn't in the historic starting lineup yesterday as the Mets christened Citi Field, but he won't have to wait long to test out right field.

Manager Jerry Manuel said the 40-year-old slugger -- who stands just one homer away from the 500 mark -- is expected to get his first start as a Met tomorrow night.

"In this game, you can practice, practice, practice, but eventually you have to play, you have to get on the field," Manuel said. "We have to put him out there, watch him play, and if there's a chance to defend for him, we'll do that."

Sheffield would start tomorrow in place of Ryan Church despite being just a third of the way to losing the 20 pounds Sheffield wanted to shed to play the cavernous Citi Field outfield, which is 415 feet in right-center.

"When he told me, I was elated that he's going to give me a start," Sheffield said yesterday before reaching on a fielder's choice and scoring a run as a pinch-hitter. "I didn't know it was going to happen this soon, but [it's good to] get it out of the way, 'Been there, done that,' and you can move on.""