The extent of the Mets' patience with Ike Davis and his paltry production is not endless.

In fact, it looks like next Friday's homestand opener against the Cincinnati Reds may be the point at which Terry Collins is forced to shift Lucas Duda to first base, a team source confirmed.

Davis is 3-for-27 in the Mets' past 10 games. His .158 batting average is the second-worst in the majors among major league qualifiers, leading only Milwaukee's Rickie Weeks (.157).

The Mets have shown extreme patience with Davis. And they can afford a little more latitude with this series, as well as the next one at Tampa Bay, because of the DH.

But with the outfield crowded since Jason Bay's return from the DL, the expectation is Duda will shift to first base as soon as next Friday at Citi Field if Davis' production does not pick up very soon.

Davis has been in the lineup only once in the past six games in which the Mets have faced a left-handed starter, but Collins said he may keep Davis at first base for Sunday's game against the Yankees' Andy Pettitte. Vinny Rottino is the alternative to start the series finale, and has not been ruled out, Collins indicated.

"He's a very strong-willed, very confident young man," Collins said about Davis. "Right now, I think, Ike is open to hearing things [advice-wise]. And when that happens, sometimes you've got to be careful, because now you listen to everybody. Everybody's got something to say and you're listening, and you're going to try to do it. The next thing you know, it's so scrambled in your head. So we're trying to make sure that Ike, he listens, is polite, but he's got to ultimately make the adjustments himself."