‘ALIAS” is punting on its big, mega-hyped post-Super Bowl episode starring Ethan Hawke.

A spokeswoman for Touchstone Television, which produces “Alias” for ABC, said show creator J.J. Abrams was behind the last-minute switch – because he felt the episode that’s being substituted “was stronger.”

“J.J. prefers it this way,” she said, adding that ABC will announce shortly just when the Hawke episode will air.

Instead, another episode, “Phase One,” starring “Blade Runner” baddie Rutger Hauer, will now air around 10:15 p.m on Sunday, Jan. 26 after the Super Bowl.

ABC announced the change yesterday – via a brief, two-line mention in its daily press release.

In “Phase One,” Sydney and Jack (Victor Garber) are confronted by the new director of SD-6, who’s played by Hauer. The new director replaces the missing Sloane (Ron Rifkin) – whose motives and whereabouts are unknown.

In Hawke’s episode, he will portray CIA agent Lennox, whose identity is called into question by Sydney (Jennifer Garner) and dad Jack (Victor Garber) after Lennox’s “deep cover” mission is blown.

for comment at press time.