Lake Buena Vista, Fla. — Two acclaimed 40-something Braves pitchers were at adjacent locker stalls Tuesday, each preparing for something they never would have anticipated weeks ago.

John Smoltz, who's headed for the disabled list, was preparing to go out and test his bothersome shoulder with some light throwing and determine if he could move forward with rehab.

Tom Glavine was preparing to pitch in a minor-league game on a backfield, his final spring outing after changing his schedule to fill in for pal Smoltz in Monday's home opener against Pittsburgh.

It was odd, seeing them in these roles — Glavine, the pitcher some believed had nothing left after his end-of-season collapse with the New York Mets, preparing to fill in for the Braves' tough, proud pitching leader.

"I've just got to get through this, that's all," Smoltz said. "I've got to get away from the consuming factor of my shoulder. Got to get back to normal activities, and that's the goal of today."

Thirty minutes later, he pronounced the exercise a success. His shoulder felt better, not tight like a week ago, when he cut short a side session because of what he described as a "knot" in the trapezius muscle.

"Once they realized Smoltz wasn't going to make his start, they approached me about what I would need to do to pitch that game," said Glavine, who had been scheduled to pitch the third regular-season game. "We made a few adjustments.

"Things happen. Hopefully Smoltzie will be alright."

Tim Hudson will start Sunday's season opener against Washingtons, a special one-game matchup at the team's new ballpark. Glavine will be followed by rookie Jair Jurrjens and left-hander Mike Hampton.

The Braves can go with Hudson and Glavine on regular rest in games 5-6, then hope to have Smoltz back from the DL to start the seventh game, April 6, which could be a ballyhooed pairing with new Mets ace Johan Santana.

Asked Tuesday about that potential matchup, Smoltz said, "It's me against me right now."

Smoltz plans to throw Wednesday or Thursday and again this weekend. He could pitch next week in a simulated game, perhaps against Class A Rome hitters.

Smoltz in the past week had done nothing but rest and rehab — ice, whirlpools, stretching, strengthening exercises. He said he'd hold off on cortisone injections until later in the season, if necessary.

Glavine said would be pumped to pitch the Turner Field opener in his first start back with the Braves after five seasons with the Mets.

"It is [exciting] — once I got over the anxiety of having to change my schedule down here," said Glavine, who was to have made two starts this week.

Instead he pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings Tuesday for Class AA Mississippi in a camp game against Class AAA Richmond, allowing two hits and no walks with six strikeouts while throwing 54 strikes in 89 pitches.

He'll go from a backfield Tuesday to a packed house at Turner Field Monday.

"Opening day is always a fun time, especially your home opener," Glavine said. "I'm looking forward to it. Hopefully it's a good thing, mentally and emotionally — two less days I have to sit around and think about it."

What kind of reception does the 300-game winner expect from the home fans?

"I'm not naïve enough to think everybody in Atlanta is going to be thrilled I'm back," said Glavine, who was booed lustily in return visits to Turner Field during his first few years with the Mets.

"I think there are three schools of people — some who don't like me no matter what, some who like me no matter what, and those in the middle," he said.

He believes those in the middle will "come around" to realize that the Braves' signing him made sense, provided he pitches well.

For now, Smoltz is trying not to look ahead. Though he hasn't fought the Braves' plan to DL him, this past week hasn't been easy for him to deal with.

It bothers him — not being ready to pitch in the first week of the season, and second-guessing of the unusual spring regimen Smoltz was permitted to follow.

He didn't make his first (and only) start until March 15, after skipping his early turns to pitch in simulated games against mostly minor leaguers. He did it to work on off-speed pitches away from the competitive atmosphere of games.

He believed those pitches would help extend his career and allow him to stay healthier for the full season.

"If I get frustrated, it's over people not trusting me," he said. "I just don't understand that. I know what I'm doing. I've been doing it a long time.

"I don't take lightly anything that I've done here. Nobody wants to pitch more than me."

Hudson tune-up

In his final spring start, Hudson was charged with one hit and three runs (one earned) in 31/3 innings of a 5-4 loss Tuesday against the Mets at Port St. Lucie, Fla. Braves closer Rafael Soriano recorded three strikeouts in an inning to give him seven strikeouts in his past three innings.