The long-awaited return of Rafael Soriano could finally happen when the Yankees play the Orioles on Friday night.

“Him throwing two days in a row [with Triple-A Scranton earlier in the week], we thought it was best to give him two days [off],” Joe Girardi said. “He’ll be active [Thursday] … I think.”

Girardi said he doesn’t expect Soriano to have any confidence problems when he does come back.

“I’m not concerned about it, but time will tell,” Girardi said. “Some of the time, he threw the ball well for us. I wouldn’t think he’d be a guy who would have a huge confidence issue because of all the success he’s had to this point.”

That success has not been evident with the Yankees, with a 5.40 ERA in 16 games.

The manager was also not worried about the performance of the pen yesterday, when four relievers gave up eight hits and seven runs in three innings, blaming most of their trouble on the team’s poor defense.

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Girardi said Alex Rodriguez, who turned 36 Wednesday, will head to Tampa to continue to rehab from right knee surgery earlier this month.

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Girardi said the team doesn’t expect Pedro Feliciano to return this season.

“I think he’s trying to play catch,” Girardi said of the lefty, signed to a two-year, $8 million deal in the offseason. But Feliciano, who was used in a record number of games with the Mets, has been sidelined with an injured left shoulder since spring training.

Asked if he believed Feliciano’s season was over, Girardi said: “I would think so.”

Damaso Marte, another injured lefty rehabbing in Tampa, is throwing some bullpen sessions, according to Girardi.