Gov. Cuomo’s chief of staff is among the first witnesses set to be called Tuesday at the corruption trial of a former aide who the governor once likened to a brother — and whose case threatens to thwart his potential presidential ambitions.

Linda Lacewell, who’s been described as Cuomo’s “minister of defense,” will be called to the stand following opening statements in Manhattan federal court, prosecutors said.

A jury of seven women and five men was chosen Monday to hear the evidence against Joseph Percoco, who’s accused of shaking down more than $300,000 in “pay-to-play” bribes from companies seeking to do business with the state.

The panel was picked following a day of questioning that saw several potential jurors booted for voicing strong feelings about lawmakers and office-seekers.

“All politicians are crooks in some way and lie more than tell the truth,” one woman, Marguerite Ballus, of Putnam County, wrote on a questionnaire designed to reveal bias against Percoco and his three co-defendants.

Two others were also excused when they told Manhattan federal Judge Valerie Caproni that their hatred of corruption was so strong they wouldn’t want themselves on the jury if they were on trial.

“Corruption pisses me off,” said booted jury pool member Spencer Smith.

One of the payoffs Percoco is accused of accepting took the form of a “low-show job” that allegedly paid his wife $90,000 a year for at most 20 hours of work a week.

Key testimony is expected to come from former lobbyist-turned-cooperating witness Todd Howe, who allegedly exchanged emails with Percoco in which they referred to cash as “ziti” — a move prosecutors say they lifted from HBO’s mobster series “The Sopranos.”

In a nod to that evidence, state Republican Chair Ed Cox and Manhattan GOP Chair Andrea Catsimatidis stood outside the courthouse behind a banner emblazoned with images of a doctored box of Ronzoni pasta labeled “CUOMO’S BRIBEZONI.”

Assemblyman Ron Castorina Jr. (R-Staten Island) blasted his fellow party members, saying the protest smacked of anti-Italian bigotry.

“My personal visceral reaction is I’m offended by this,” said Castorina, who’s the Staten Island GOP chairman.

“I’m not coming to the defense of the governor. I’m vocalizing my reaction to the insensitivity. This would not have had the same impact if the governor and Joe Percoco weren’t Italian-American.”

Additional reporting by Kirstan Conley