"It's really exciting because it's the first game back but I'll try not to expect too much out of myself but use it as a stepping stone to more games and some at higher level, hopefully, to get back to the Black Caps.
"I don't expect it to be rapid from game one but I know that with a bit of time in bowling I'll get back to my rhythm to deliver a little quicker."
His last outing was with the Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL T20 in April last year. His previous ODI in national colours was against Australia on February 8 last year during the Chappell-Hadlee Series.
In 18 twenty20 internationals, he has claimed 21 wickets at 21.8 each. His 33 ODIs have yielded 31 at 40 apiece. West Indian heavo-ho mercenary Chris Gayle is among his prized scalps.
So what has Milne been up to?
"Not a whole lot. I've been doing a little bit of rehab with all the different injuries I've come back from and then picked up another one.
"I've sort of enjoyed my Christmas and New Year with family, which is a positive thing to come out of it."
Milne's most recent injury is a side strain picked up in the nets last month which put him out for six weeks.
"I just have to be a bit smart about it and, obviously, I'm watching how many overs I'm bowling.
"Some of the injuries are part and parcel of bowling but some of them can be prevented so I'm just kind of trying to separate the two."
That certainly doesn't mean the right-armer is mutating into a T20 mercenary where he will be reduced to managing four-over loads at a time.
"Definitely not. I'm only 24 and I still think I've got a part to play in four-day cricket and, hopefully, test cricket which is what I want to play.
"Nah, I definitely don't want to be pigeon-holed as a Twenty20 player or as a white-ball player. I want to play red-ball and four-day cricket for CD."
When, rather than if, Milne receives his appraisal he's keen to help CD in the remaining Plunket Shield matches.
He has been in close contact with Black Caps coach Mike Hesson, national bowling coach Shane Jurgensen and CD coach Heinrich Malan.
In the past few weeks he met a couple of them at the high-performance centre in Lincoln, near Christchurch, to eke out a bowling plan to help him manage his loads better and, consequently, maximise his time on the park.
That blueprint was devoid of any crunching deadlines on what game he was gunning to make his long-awaited return.
"When I'm ready to play I'll play and not trying to get back to play this game or that game so it was sort of I'm going to build up the overs ... to a level where my fitness is good enough and I'm bowling enough to play."
He'll take today's game in his stride but accepts there may be a few butterflies akin to someone making his international debut come his return to the New Zealand stable.
Lockie Ferguson, of Auckland, is the new bowling beast on the block, so has it been tough watching it on TV?
"It's tough to watch any cricket that you feel like you can play but with the likes of Lockie it's really good to see him come in to do what is the same for all the bowlers.
"We've been bowling this summer with Trent [Boult], Tim [Southee] and Wags [Neil Wagner] in test cricket so it's been a pleasure watching those guys at work while it's been frustrating to be sitting on the sidelines but once I'm back playing I'll be pushing to get back in that side."
