Rory Delap is relishing being a part of Stoke's European adventure so late in his career.
Since the 35-year-old midfielder joined the Potters they have enjoyed incredible success, securing promotion to the Barclays Premier League, establishing themselves as a force in the top flight and last term reaching the FA Cup final. That Wembley appearance has led to City taking part in the Europa League, where they sit top of Group E.
Ahead of the home clash with Israeli outfit Maccabi Tel Aviv, Delap said: "If I was being brutally honest, I wouldn't have thought five years ago that I'd still be playing at this level. You've just got to enjoy these games because particularly for myself, you are not going to get too many occasions like this."
He added: "I'm just pleased to still be in and around it at a club like this, and I feel like I'm still holding my own."
Stoke boss Tony Pulis boosted his numbers over the summer by recruiting the likes of Peter Crouch, Wilson Palacios and Cameron Jerome, but feels it is important that long-serving players like Delap and recent injury victims Danny Higginbotham - who is in contention to feature for the first time since April - and Mamady Sidibe continue to have a role.
"We are pleased to see Danny back," Pulis said.
"Also Mama is very close. We need all the help we can get and they are good lads. They are people who have been here for a long time and they know the structure and DNA of the football club. They are important people to us.
"I think the basis of the football club is really built on having good people around you.
"As a manager the job is hard enough as it is and you can make it even more difficult if you don't get the right sort of people in.
"I think over the past six or seven years what we have done very well is select decent people, who have come here and really rolled their sleeves up and worked hard. Rory has epitomised that - he would be in that top group of players that you would say this club has been built on. He has been a bedrock of the success of Stoke City.''
Source: PA
