It's all systems go for Joba Chamberlain's transformation from bullpen maestro to hopeful rotation ace.

Just a day after Yankees GM Brian Cashman looked the 22-year-old phenom in the eye and asked him if his heart was into starting or remaining in the bullpen, there was Chamberlain pitching the final two innings of a Yanks' blowout last night, his first step in gaining the stamina to joining the starting rotation.

"[Chamberlain] looked me right in the eye and said, 'I want the opportunity to start,' Cashman said after the Yankees hammered Baltimore 8-0 to snap a four-game losing streak.

Cashman and manager Joe Girardi declined to give a timetable for Chamberlain making his first start with the Yankees, and Hank Steinbrenner would only say he's happy the process has begun. It is Steinbrenner - more than any other voice in the organization - who has pushed for Chamberlain to leave his setup role, with the hope of becoming the ace of the Yankees' rotation.

Steinbrenner told The Post late last night that he received a phone call from team president Randy Levine earlier in the day outlining the plan to begin using Chamberlain for extended duty. Girardi summoned the right-hander after Darrell Rasner (3-0) fired seven shutout innings, his third straight impressive start since joining the team earlier this month.

"This was always going to happen, it was the plan from the beginning," Steinbrenner said.

Told that Cashman had a chat with Chamberlain just to ensure his heart was into starting, Steinbrenner seemed surprised it was even an issue.

"Joba has made it clear for the last four months that he wants to be a starter," Steinbrenner said. "I said it four months ago: I know he wants to start."

Chamberlain, who threw 35 pitches over the two scoreless innings, said he is "excited" the process has begun. The plan does not call for Chamberlain returning to the minor leagues to hone his skills as a starter.

"We're going to be patient and make sure everything is taken care of and done the right way," Chamberlain said. "It's going to be a process, and we have that plan just to make sure my legs and my arm is going to be OK."

Eyebrows were raised when Chamberlain remained in the game to pitch the ninth inning, but that was before Girardi revealed that Chamberlain's transformation into starter had begun.

"This has been the plan for months, so we'll continue to stretch him out," Girardi said.