WIGAN boss Steve Bruce knows Stoke City pose more than just a physical threat in the Premier League clash at the JJB.

Rory Delap's spectacular long throws are possibly the key weapon in Stoke's artillery but Wigan are determined not to be caught in the same way Arsenal were last week.

Bruce realised his players will need to be on their toes when faced with a set piece that involves a Delap delivery into the penalty box.

"It is a weapon, that's for sure," he said. "We know what is coming but we are not going to get paranoid about it.

"We have got some sort of plan, and we'll be looking to put it into effect.

"In my day, it was your job as a centre-half to head the ball out, just get it clear.

"The thing about the Delap throw-in is, when you are defending your box from a long free-kick, you can come out and catch players offside but you can't do that with a throw-in.

"You just have to be brave enough to head the ball out. You can always throw a ball more accurately than you can kick it, and he can throw it 50 metres apparently, which is quite incredible.

"It's a fantastic thing to have and any team - I don't care if you're Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea or Arsenal - will find it difficult to defend against.

"He's just unbelievable. David Beckham was the master of free-kicks because he used to consistently put the ball into the area, and Delap can whizz it in with the same pace and the same trajectory, time and time again."

Wigan skipper Mario Melchiot can throw a ball a considerable distance and understands just what a threat Delap can be. "It is going to be tough but it is like anything in life - if there is something that could hit you, you always have to prepare yourselves better to make sure it does not. That is what we have to do, we must protect ourselves and we will."

Bruce plans to keep faith with the team who won at Portsmouth last week.

Stoke manager Tony Pulis is expected to name an unchanged side for the game.

Amdy Faye was preferred to Tom Soares for last week’s shock win over Arsenal and the Senegal international is set to retain his place.

Pulis has reported no new injury worries, but long-term absentees Liam Lawrence (ankle) and Andrew Davies (knee) are still sidelined.

Wigan Athletic (from): Kirkland, Pollitt, Melchiot, Taylor, Bramble, Scharner, Boyce, Figueroa, Kilbane, Valencia, De Ridder, Cattermole, Brown, Palacios, Koumas, Heskey, Zaki, Camara.

Stoke City (from): Sorensen, Griffin, Shawcross, Abdoulaye Faye, Higginbotham, Amdy Faye, Diao, Olofinjana, Delap, Sidibe, Fuller, Simonsen, Whelan, Soares, Cresswell, Kitson, Wilkinson, Sonko, Tonge, Cort, Pericard.

Wigan league form: LLLLW

Stoke league form: LWLWW

Key opponent: Rory Delap - defending his long throws well might be the key for Wigan

Prediction: Wigan 1 Stoke 0 - The Latics should win if they are prepared to scrap

Agree with the prediction? Have your say.

You can get 6/1 on Wigan winning 1-0 with Betfred. For this and more odds, click here.

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