Derby boss Paul Jewell will tonight try to prove he knows how to stop Stoke's Rory Delap.

A host of big-name defenders have been caught out by the trademark long-throws Delap hurls with pace and precision into the penalty area.

Now it is Jewell's Derby who will be on the receiving end when his side face Stoke at the Britannia Stadium for a place in the semi-finals of the Carling Cup.

"People have asked me throughout the season how you defend against it, and without any pressure I've been telling them," said Jewell.

"But now all of a sudden I have to do it, so we will see whether it works or not. Who knows? We might end up with egg on our faces.

"The beauty of Delap's throw is that it's flat, comes in at around 40 miles per hour, and it's difficult to defend. With so much pace on the ball they can score with just a touch or from an own goal.

"Even if you get the first touch it could end up in the back of the net. It's a major threat, a real weapon that has got people thinking and wishing they all had a player like Delap.

"They've had success from it, but I've my own ideas on what we should do, and whether it works we will find out, but we will have to be brave."

Jewell took Wigan to the Carling Cup Final in 2006 only for it to become a day to forget as his side were hammered by Manchester United.

"We lost 4-0, with the last half hour one of the longest of my life," said Jewell.

"Although I was proud to lead the team out, in the end it wasn't a fun place to be, one of my worst football days.

"I've never once watched the DVD. I've not been able to bring myself to watch it, and I'll never watch it."