The next step in Giancarlo Stanton’s recovery from a sprained right knee will be a trip to Tampa.

Stanton is expected to take plenty of live at-bats there in an effort to return this season from the right-knee sprain that has sidelined him since June.

Despite Stanton’s lack of time on the field and multiple leg injuries, manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday he is confident Stanton can return not just as a DH, but also to play the outfield.

“I see him hopefully as part of the outfield mix,’’ Boone said before the Yankees’ 4-1 win over the Rangers in The Bronx.

Before that becomes a realistic possibility, Stanton has plenty of hurdles to clear.

He took some at-bats during Dellin Betances’ simulated game Tuesday at Yankee Stadium, but last month, Stanton said he wanted “a few weeks of at-bats before October, for sure.”

“He’s starting to build some momentum,’’ Boone said of Stanton, who has been limited to nine games all season. “He’s doing pretty well. He had some at-bats off Dellin, but now he’ll get regular at-bats this weekend.”

If that goes well, Boone didn’t rule out getting Stanton into minor league playoff games if Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre or Double-A Trenton advances beyond this weekend.

“If a team advances and he’s ready to go, maybe we’ll have that conversation,’’ Boone said. “Right now, we’re lining him up for a lot of at-bats in Tampa.’’

He’ll be joined there by Aaron Hicks (right flexor strain), who has started a throwing program and will start hitting soon.

Though Scranton/Wilkes-Barre advanced in the International League playoffs, Boone said Betances and fellow right-hander Luis Severino are still scheduled to make rehab appearances at Trenton on Friday due to possible Hurricane Dorian effects in Durham, N.C., where SWB lost its playoff opener Wednesday and had Game 2 postponed to Friday.

“There’s more of a certainty with the weather situation,’’ Boone said of Trenton, which hosts Game 3 of its playoff series with Reading on Friday.