ATLANTA – After waiting 568 days between starts, John Smoltz knows the comeback is not yet complete.

In a way, it's only beginning.

Smoltz, who hasn't pitched for the Atlanta Braves since the 1999 World Series, returns to the mound Thursday night against the Colorado Rockies.

	John Smoltz was last seen on the mound in Game 4 of the 1999 World Series against the Yankees.

Patience -- never one of Smoltz's strongest virtues -- will be at a premium some 14 months after elbow surgery.

"My competitive spirit will want to win the game, but I've got to take steps to be as good as I can for the entire year," he said. "That's not going to happen real easy."

While the elbow is as healthy as can be expected after Tommy John surgery, it could take a while for Smoltz to regain the pinpoint control that is needed against big-league hitters.

"Confidence-wise, I'm getting there," he said. "I've just got to grind it out, figure out ways to get people out."

Smoltz, who captured the NL Cy Young award in 1996 and has more postseason wins than any pitcher in baseball history, pitched with a shaky elbow for years.

He altered his motion and even experimented with a knuckleball, hoping to reduce the pain. But the elbow, which underwent two arthroscopic operations, finally gave out in spring training last year.

Smoltz had a ligament replaced and missed the entire season. He hoped to return for opening day, but tendinitis delayed his comeback.

Now, after two successful rehab starts in the minors, Smoltz is ready to pitch again for the Braves.

"There's just a little bit of apprehension to keep me on my toes," he admitted. "I have no doubt that I will be successful. But I don't know about the timeline."

Smoltz will be limited to 80-90 pitches in what he calls the most anxiously awaited start of his career. For a guy who has pitched in 28 postseason games, that is the most telling comment of all.

"No start will ever be more anxious than this one, unless I know a start is going to be the last one of my career," he said. "This means a lot to more people than just me. A lot of people have a stake in this."

Start with his 24 teammates.

The Braves hope Smoltz's return will boost a struggling team (19-21) that is going for its first three-game winning streak of the season.

"It's going to be an emotional day," outfielder Brian Jordan said. "He's such a competitor. He'll probably go out and throw the first pitch 100 mph. That's just the way he is."

The Braves have been without two regulars from their once-vaunted rotation. Kevin Millwood is on the disabled list with a cyst in his right shoulder.

"Smoltzie has been a great pitcher for a long time," teammate John Burkett said. "To have somebody like that come back is going to be a big lift. But the main thing is to have him healthy for the rest of the year."

Smoltz will face the top-hitting team in baseball. The Rockies' lineup features Todd Helton, Larry Walker and Ron Gant.

"It will be good to have him back, but I don't look forward to facing him," said Gant, who began his career with the Braves. "He's always been a dominating pitcher. If he comes back strong, you know it will be tough to score runs against him."

Smoltz was especially missed during last year's playoffs. The Braves were swept by the St. Louis Cardinals in the division series, their earliest postseason exit since beginning a streak of nine straight appearances in 1991.

"What made this seem longer was us not exactly playing well at the end of last year," said Smoltz, who has a 12-4 record in the postseason. "That made it really tough."

He was ahead of schedule in spring training, pitching three games for a total of six innings. The pain returned, however, forcing him to spend another 6{ weeks on the disabled list.

"I couldn't wait to come back," Smoltz said. "I thought I was on schedule. The last month lasted about a year."

He insists that it doesn't matter how well he pitches in his first game, just as long as he feels healthy.

"I don't want to look at stats as a confidence-builder," he said. "I'm looking for control and the ability to make pitches."

Smoltz celebrated his 34th birthday on Tuesday -- an issue that could hamper his comeback.

"I'm a lot older than most people who've come back from this surgery," he said. "While I have more experience, I'm not getting any younger."

But Smoltz doesn't dwell on the possible negatives for very long. He's waited too long for something positive to happen in his career.

"A lot of things will be replayed in my mind," he said. "Just walking out to the mound is going to be exciting."