The Magpies striker, who was a revelation in the club's championship-winning campaign, scored a hat-trick in the 6-0 win over Aston Villa on their first appearance at St James' Park this season.
He took his tally to four with a goal in his next game at Wolves but Delap believes centre-back Shawcross, who is on the fringes of Fabio Capello's England squad, will be able to cope.
"On his day, Ryan can defend against anything," he said. "It's an honour to captain your club and Ryan has been given that honour and is doing very well.
"I think Ryan is going from strength to strength and getting better and better. And games like Sunday's will prove that.
"Andy Carroll was excellent last season and people were wondering about him in the Premier League, but he's proved he can do it at the top level."
Delap is enjoying the increased competition within the squad this season, even if he has not been able to respond with the goals manager Tony Pulis craves from his midfielders.
"Everyone's got to keep on their toes because there's at least two players available for every position now," added the 34-year-old. "The strength we have here now is as good as I've known it.
"But those out of the team haven't gone to the papers moaning and groaning about it. That's why we've been as successful as we have.
"If I'm not playing, I'm not going to sit there and sulk. If I'm not in the team I'm going to look at what I can improve."
The trip to Newcastle is always a tough one but Delap hopes the added incentive of a number of Stoke's team being former Sunderland players - the likes of Dean Whitehead and Danny Collins - will add an extra dimension to the game.
And as an ex-Black Cat he would dearly love to end his 61-game Premier League goal drought against his former club's bitter rivals.
"We've got quite a little contingent from Sunderland here, so I think that will raise the atmosphere a little bit more, not that it needs that," Delap told The Sentinel.
"It would be great to stick one in up there. I used to get a few, but I think Chelsea was the last one I got a couple of years ago.
"It's something I have been working on, but sometimes it just doesn't happen for you out there.
"It's definitely something I've got to improve on."
Source: Team Talk
Source: Team Talk