Index: modules/plugin/wfs/src/main/java/org/geotools/data/wfs/WFSDataStore.java
===================================================================
--- modules/plugin/wfs/src/main/java/org/geotools/data/wfs/WFSDataStore.java	(revision 29131)
+++ modules/plugin/wfs/src/main/java/org/geotools/data/wfs/WFSDataStore.java	(working copy)
@@ -213,20 +213,38 @@
     
     private void findCapabilities(URL host) throws SAXException, IOException {
 
-        // TODO support using POST for getCapabilities
-        
         Object t = null;
         Map hints = new HashMap();
         hints.put(DocumentFactory.VALIDATION_HINT, Boolean.FALSE);
-        try{
-            HttpURLConnection hc = getConnection(host,auth,false);
+        
+        if( (protocol & GET_PROTOCOL) == GET_PROTOCOL ) {
+            HttpURLConnection hc = getConnection(createGetCapabilitiesRequest(host),auth,false);
             InputStream is = getInputStream(hc);
             t = DocumentFactory.getInstance(is, hints, WFSDataStoreFactory.logger.getLevel());
-        }catch(Throwable e){
-            HttpURLConnection hc = getConnection(createGetCapabilitiesRequest(host),auth,false);
+        }
+        
+        if( (false == (t instanceof WFSCapabilities)) && ((protocol & POST_PROTOCOL) == POST_PROTOCOL) ) {
+            HttpURLConnection hc = getConnection(host,auth,true);
+            
+            // write request
+            Writer osw = getOutputStream(hc);
+            hints.put(DocumentWriter.BASE_ELEMENT,
+                WFSSchema.getInstance().getElements()[0]); // GetCapabilities
+            
+            try {
+                DocumentWriter.writeDocument( (Object)null, WFSSchema.getInstance(), osw, hints );
+            } catch (OperationNotSupportedException e) {
+                WFSDataStoreFactory.logger.warning(e.getMessage());
+                throw new SAXException(e);
+            }
+            
+            osw.flush();
+            osw.close();
+
             InputStream is = getInputStream(hc);
             t = DocumentFactory.getInstance(is, hints, WFSDataStoreFactory.logger.getLevel());
         }
+        
         if (t instanceof WFSCapabilities) {
             capabilities = (WFSCapabilities) t;
         } else {