Schillaci will make an anticipated return to racing in a heat of the Sportsbet Warragul Cup (460m) tonight in his first start since his remarkable win in The Phoenix last month.

The $1.65m Phoenix, held at The Meadows, is the world’s richest greyhound race, with Schillaci snaring the million dollar first prize as the rank outsider.

He led all the way that night, taking his record to 11 wins from 19 starts while his prizemoney earnings spiraled to $1,072,955.

Trainer Jihad Talgi said Schillaci will need to nail the start again on Friday as he lines up from Box 8 in a field that includes fellow Phoenix runner Pass The Buck.

“He has had Box 8 twice before, once at Warragul, when he won by seven lengths, and another time when he blew the start and ran 3^rd to Kelsey Bale,” Talgi said.

“He’s got to jump well, that’s his racing pattern. If he doesn’t lead, he struggles against dogs of this quality.

“Since The Phoenix I’ve kept him fresh other than a trial at Shepparton last week over the 390 metres. He ran 21.75 seconds which was a pretty good time considering the track wasn’t that quick.”

The track record at Shepparton in 21.53 seconds, held by Lektra Heckler, who’ll line up in the opening Warragul Cup heat on Friday.

Schillaci will compete in the third heat, which is Race 6 at 8.53pm.

A total of seven heats will be run, starting at 8.12pm, with the winners and fastest runner-up to contest the final on Friday January 12.

Other big names to line up in the heats include reigning Topgun winner Transponder, Alpha Zulu, Tim Zoo and Hector Fawley.

WATCH: Schillaci stuns onlookers, winning The Phoenix at the blowout odds of $20.60.

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