IT'S STARS VS. SHARKS AGAIN

If it's anything like opening night down in Jacksonville, New York fans should get set for a real anything-goes donnybrook this Wednesday night at 8:05 at Downing Stadium, as the Stars take on the Jacksonville Sharks for the second time in four weeks. Last time, on national TV, the Stars gave away their chance for victory by allowing Jacksonville touchdowns on a blocked punt and a punt return. Since that night, July 11, the Sharks have lost twice, and the Stars have split, with each coming into Wednesday's battle with identical 1-2 records. The Stars and Sharks are tied for second place in the WFL East along with Philadelphia.

The Sharks will send the league's top runner, Tommy Durrance, against the league's No. 1 rushing defense. Durrance, gainer of 80 yards in the first encounter between the two clubs, leads the WFL with 257 yards, a 3.6 yard average. The Stars front line of Gerry Philbin, Lloyd Voss, John Elliott and Larry Estes have held opponents to an average of only 74.3 yards a game, and only one TD on the ground. Jacksonville, Birmingham and Philadelphia - - the Stars first three opponents - - have been able to accumulate the sparse number of only 223 yards total on the ground against the Stars.

New York itself has been no slouch on the ground, either. The Stars with Bob Gladieux rushing for 74 yards, and newcomer Ed White accumulating another 70 last week against Philly, rank No. 1 in the league in rushing. Their per-game average is a strong 206.7 yards, with their three-game yardage total - 620 yards - outdistancing the second-place club, Memphis, by 122 yards.

The Stars, winners last week over the Bell on a 40-yard field goal by newly-activated rookie Moses Lajterman, come home with hopes that their season has finally taken an upswing, after two frustrating loses at the beginning of their first World Football League campaign.