SARASOTA – Convinced he fits into the Yankees’ plans, Darryl Strawberry believes he could be ready for action by the middle of next month instead of waiting until the first week of May.

“When my chemo is over, I will play and my chemo isn’t going to last that long,” Strawberry told The Post yesterday. “I have to talk to my doctor, but I think I will finish this cycle and that could be it.”

Strawberry will take the third of four chemo treatments Friday in Palm Springs. After spending Easter weekend with his family there, Strawberry will return to Tampa and continue to work out in the Yankees’ extended spring program.

If next Friday is his final treatment, Strawberry envisions a scenario where he could be ready for the big leagues following one week of hacking against Triple-A pitchers.

It was previously believed that after Strawberry completes this cycle, he would be off chemo for two weeks before beginning a final four-week cycle.

Vowing not to risk his health in order to make a quick return to the big leagues from colon cancer, Strawberry wants to spend as little time as possible at Columbus.

After two talks with Joe Torre, Strawberry is convinced the Yankees have plans for him and that he won’t be left dangling in the minors. Of course, those plans will be dictated in part by how well Ricky Ledee is doing in left field and Chili Davis is performing in the DH role.

Yesterday, Strawberry was slated to take a bus ride to Ed Smith Stadium where the Yankees played the Reds. However, since the decision not to take him north when camp ends tomorrow was already made, Strawberry didn’t go. Instead, he went to the Yankees’ minor league complex and took batting practice.

“I am not going to play in the games anymore,” Strawberry said. “I’ll just go hit.”