NFL

TERRELL-ABLE NEWS: ‘BOYS STAR TO START

IRVING, Texas – Order up the popcorn.

The Cowboys finally stopped their weeklong charade yesterday and confirmed Terrell Owens not only will play in Sunday’s NFC divisional playoff against the Giants, but the Pro Bowl wideout will be in the starting lineup.

Owens, who famously told reporters earlier this season to “get your popcorn ready” for his game against the Patriots, is battling a high left ankle sprain suffered in a Dec. 22 win over the Panthers.

But Owens is so eager to face the Giants – who he has tortured in the past, especially this season – he even went to the Mavericks’ Dallas practice facility this week so he could run in an underwater tank to keep his conditioning up.

“No limitations,” Owens said yesterday about his status for the Giants. “See you Sunday!”

Although Owens practiced the past two days and told Deion Sanders in an NFL Network interview aired Thursday night he would play against the Giants, the Cowboys continued to insist No. 81 was questionable.

Coach Wade Phillips reluctantly lifted that smokescreen yesterday, saying Owens would return to his usual starting role.

“Terrell Owens said he was going to play, and I believe him,” Phillip said. “To what degree and what level remains to be seen. But unless something unforeseen happens, I think he will attempt to play and we probably will let him play.”

A high ankle sprain is a serious injury that has sidelined many players as long as two months. Owens is trying to come back in just three weeks, which might explain the Cowboys’ reluctance to guarantee he would play.

At the same time, the Cowboys appear to be leaving it up to Owens as to how much time he sees Sunday.

“I haven’t said ‘no’ to Terrell Owens since I gave him the check,” cracked Cowboys owner Jerry Jones when asked if he would hold Owens out. “Terrell knows his situation better than anyone. He wants to be out there.”

That’s great news for the Cowboys and potentially ruinous news for the Giants. Not only is Owens the lynchpin of Dallas’ high-flying offense, catching a team-record 15 touchdowns, he put a stake in Big Blue twice this season. Four of Owens’ TDs on just nine total catches came in wins over the Giants.

“[Having Owens] is going to be a huge positive for us,” Dallas quarterback Tony Romo said. “He means so much to this team.”

Cornerback Terence Newman said his defensive teammates just wish Owens wouldn’t score so fast.

“T.O. has, what, 30 touchdowns? And half of them are 80 yards or longer? That just puts [the defense] right back on the field,” Newman said jokingly yesterday. “But seriously, having him is definitely huge for us. It’s going to take a lot of pressure off Tony and the running game, especially when you’ve got to designate two people on him and take a guy out of the box. That frees up a couple of other guys. He does a lot for this team.”

bhubbuch@nypost.com