No, he’s not obliged to ante (apologies extended) up for an ever-swelling stack of game tickets.

Good thing, too.

A fella away out on his own just starting a career is obliged to put food on the table and keep a roof over his head.

“The last time I spoke to home,’’ hedges Ante Milanovic-Litre, “we’d arranged for, I think, 90 tickets, but that doesn’t count people who bought theirs in advance.

“I’ve got a big family, for sure.

“Aunts, uncles, their kids, their kids’ kids, neighbours, friends, their friends, people I grew up playing hockey with, people I’ve kept in touch with from school …

“As well, being part of the Croatian community, they’re all huge sports fanatics and to have somebody in the pros, they all want to come watch. It’s kinda crazy but that’s what’s been going on.

“The numbers just keep growing and growing.”

And, amazingly enough, the largest part of the brood, dad Peter’s side of the family, is mostly back in the Croatia and therefore understandably unable to attend.

Photo by David Moll

If they had all somehow managed to make the trip?

“I can’t,’’ laughs the Calgary Stampeders’ freshman running back and the subject of all this fuss, “even imagine.

“It already seems like there’s an entire section coming to see me play.”

Vancouver born and reared, Milanovic-Litre is as quintessentially west coast as cozy corner coffee hubs on Robson, the lush, green expanse of Stanley Park and to-die-for sushi, tracing his football career from Notre Dame Regional Secondary School to Simon Fraser University.

“Growing up there, obviously the Lions are in your face, so they automatically become your team,’’ he says. “I always liked watching ’backs, Andrew Harris and Mess (Jerome Messam).

“But when I got into university and as my teammates started reaching the CFL, I began cheering for the teams they were playing for.

“And it just so happened that Calgary had a liking for SFU players. Between Calgary and Winnipeg, there were quite a few. The most, I’d say.

“So I cheered for those teams.

“Just because.”

The Stampeders fourth selection, 28th overall in the 2017 CFL Draft, Milanovic-Litre opened the season awaiting his turn on the practice roster, activated for Game 3 at Investors Group Field in Winnipeg.

On July 29 at McMahon Stadium, the 6-foot, 227-pound ball-toter registered his inaugural CFL touchdown – a four-yard saunter – during the 60-1 pummelling of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

“Pretty memorable,’’ he says wistfully.

Milanovic-Litre celebrates his first CFL touchdown (Photo by Canadian Press/Jeff McIntosh)

Firsts always are.

Which is why Friday, marking an initial pay-for-play-level visit to the hometown, will be one for the personal scrapbook, too.

“I get a little nostalgic just thinking about it,’’ concedes Milanovic-Litre. “I always knew I had an amazing support network growing up but to see all the people who are coming to the game will be amazing.

“My dad’s going to be there. My mom (Mandy). My brother (Josip). My girlfriend Katarina.

“I’m really looking forward to being back. I played all my football there. I’m coming in as part of another team now but I kinda like being the enemy.

“I’m proud of where I came from. But I’m also proud of where I am today. Proud to be a Stampeder.

“It’s gonna be awesome.”

There’ll certainly be no shortage of B.C.-based Stampeder/Milanovic-Litre backers on hand for the 8:30 p.m. MDT kick-off.

At 90 (that we know of) and counting, demand for tickets certainly doesn’t rival U2’s Joshua Tree Tour dates at B.C. Place in late May.

But there’s still time remaining to give those numbers a bit of a bump.