PORT ST. LUCIE – It’s looking as if ex-Yankee Karim Garcia will have to go to trial for his alleged role in last year’s ALCS bullpen incident – but neither Garcia nor the Mets expect him to miss any time this season.

“All sides seem to be headed toward trial,” Gerry Malone, Garcia’s attorney, said in a phone interview.

Malone noted that the courts are typically amenable to scheduling conveniences, saying, “I do not think it will affect his playing for the Mets.”

Added Met GM Jim Duquette: “I don’t know all the details. Last I heard is that if it ever did go to trial, it would be after the season.”

The latest news with Garcia is that Paul Williams, the Red Sox groundskeeper involved in the incident, has filed a civil suit against Garcia and former Yankee Jeff Nelson for $33,000 in damages.

Malone called the suit “no surprise,” but said that with the criminal situation still pending, the civil suit “isn’t even on our radar screen.”

Garcia insists he’s been able to manage despite all the legal activity, saying, “It’s just unfortunate that it’s dragging way too much, and I don’t want it to become a distraction for me because I’m trying to win a job over here.”

* Manager Art Howe named Tom Glavine the Opening Day starter in Atlanta. Glavine, who is 2-3 lifetime on Opening Day (including last year’s 15-2 debacle vs. the Cubs), called it “an honor” and now has a chance to alleviate his horrific results against his former team (0-4, 10.35 ERA vs. the Braves).

“It’ll still be different pitching there than it is pitching anywhere else. And I’m not sure that’ll ever change,” Glavine said of Atlanta. “I just think that going in there this year, it’ll be a lot less emotional and a lot easier to deal with mentally than it was last year.”

* Todd Zeile confirmed he’ll retire after this season, saying, “[My career’s] not year to year. It’s this year and home.” Zeile might eventually dabble in broadcasting. . . .