MEET THE Unknown Db Tasked With Stopping Obj

GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Packers’ hopes of keeping Odell Beckham Jr. in check during this weekend’s NFC wildcard playoff matchup could very well rest on the shoulders of cornerback LaDarius Gunter. Who? Though that might sound like a Big Blue mismatch, it actually worked out well for Green Bay once before during this season — and the Packers are hoping recent history repeats itself Sunday afternoon at Lambeau Field.

“I’m excited,” Gunter said this week. “I thought we did a good job [against Beckham and the rest of the Giants’ receivers] the last time, and you’re always hyped when the big-name guys are coming into town.”

An undrafted free agent out of Miami now in his second NFL season, the little-known Gunter is likely to be in the spotlight Sunday because Beckham will be his primary task if Green Bay sticks to its usual defensive scheme.

Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers doesn’t prefer to flip his outside cornerbacks, meaning they stay to their designated side instead of following a specific receiver. Green Bay also prefers man coverage by its corners, which means Gunter — with safety help — likely will be the Packers’ first line of defense against Beckham.

That sounded fine to Capers earlier this week, when the longtime NFL coach reminisced about Gunter and fellow corner Quinten Rollins combining to frustrate Beckham in a 23-16 Packers victory at Lambeau on Oct. 9.

Beckham caught just five of Eli Manning’s 12 targets for 56 yards in that game, and his lone touchdown grab — an 8-yard reception — came with 2:54 left in the game.

None of Beckham’s five catches that night came in the four targets on which Gunter was the primary defender.

“Gunter and Rollins did a nice job,” Capers said. “We were able to play well on first and second down, and we had a number of third-and-longs in that game — I think seven or eight were thirdand-10 or 10-plus.”

Capers won’t be able to count on Rollins this week. Rollins was carted off on a stretcher with a neck injury in last week’s division-clinching victory over the Lions and Friday he officially was ruled out with a concussion.

With fellow cornerback Damarious Randall not expected to be at full strength because of a knee injury, that leaves Gunter to lead the charge for a diminished Packers secondary.

Gunter, who took over when Sam Shields was lost to a Week 1 concussion, didn’t have an interception in 14 starts, but ended up leading the team with 13 pass breakups. He has drawn raves from coach Mike McCarthy.

“Over the season, he’s probably been our highest graded corner — and that says a ton,” McCarthy said. “I think about where he started and the opportunity he’s been given. He’s done a great job.”

At 6-feet-1, 200 pounds, Gunter has a very slight size edge over the 5-11, 198pound Beckham. In the first meeting, Gunter played off Beckham instead of using the Packers’ usual press coverage. That helped him overcome Beckham’s huge quickness advantage and negated Beckham’s noted ability to separate with double moves.

At least one veteran wide receiver in the same prolific company as Beckham likes the expected matchup Sunday from Gunter’s perspective.

“I feel like they kind of come in underestimating him, thinking he’s not a premier corner in this league,” Packers star wideout Jordy Nelson said of Gunter this week. “But he’s definitely well on his way.” bhubbuch@nypost.com