FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) – Curt Schilling wants to be Boston’s opening day starter because of his performance, not his reputation. His two scoreless innings in his first exhibition appearance should help.

“I know that there are a lot of people that are assuming that I’m going to get the ball opening day because it’s the respectful thing to do. And I don’t want that to be the case,” he said. “I expect to be the ace of this staff.”

General manager Theo Epstein already has said Schilling will start the opener in Kansas City on April 1.

He also started the exhibition opener on Wednesday night, throwing 19 pitches, 15 for strikes. He allowed two singles up the middle in the 4-4 10-inning tie against the Minnesota Twins.

He threw 18 fastballs and the only splitter worked. Reigning AL batting champion Joe Mauer grounded that to first baseman Kevin Youkilis to end the first inning.

Two exhibition innings is all it took for Schilling to get back in touch with his competitive passion.

“I was nervous and short of breath and all the things I normally am whether I’m facing Northwestern or the Yankees. It’s that first time out. That anxiety,” he said after the game. “It’s amazing that it’s already back and it’s starting again.”

Last season, Schilling was 15-7 with a 3.97 ERA but struggled at times in the second half.

To lead Boston’s staff statistically this season, Schilling will need his usual fierce desire and fastball location. Considering the quality of this year’s rotation, he may need more.

Another 40-year-old pitcher, knuckleballer Tim Wakefield, is the fifth starter. The three 26-year-old right-handers in the middle should pose more trouble to hitters. That group includes a World Series MVP, the MVP of last year’s inaugural World Baseball Classic and a dominant closer who, by converting to a starter, is returning to the role he was groomed for.

Josh Beckett, the MVP of the 2003 World Series with Florida, went 16-11 with 5.01 ERA last season. Schilling has higher expectations for Beckett’s second season in the American League. On Thursday, Beckett worked the first two innings in an 11-0 win over Northeastern, striking out five and allowing one single.

“I’m very, very excited about watching Josh. I think he’s going to fly under the radar and stun some people this year,” Schilling said. “I don’t think last year sat very well with him.”

Daisuke Matsuzaka has shown signs that all the hype that comes with a $52 million contract is warranted. He will pitch his first exhibition game tonight against Boston College.

“We’re all waiting to see that happen. I know I am,” Schilling said.

Spotlighted in Japan since his teenage years, Matsuzaka has only known success. In eight seasons in Japan, all with the Seibu Lions, he was 108-60 with a 2.95 ERA.

“I don’t think he’s coming over here to try and pitch,” Schilling said. “He’s coming over here to be great and it’s going to be fun to watch.”

Jonathan Papelbon moves into the rotation after an All-Star season in which he had an 0.92 ERA and 35 saves. He struck out 75 batters in 68 innings.

Schilling plans to rely more on his changeup, a pitch he said he has worked on for three years. But the motivation of keeping up with the success he expects the staff behind him to have may be as strong an asset.

“On all the good teams I’ve ever been on, the pitchers in the rotations had a competition, in a sense,” Schilling said. “You always want these guys to pitch their tails off and you just want to go out there and pitch a little bit better. There are some guys on this staff that are going to set the bar real, real high.”