if (sslSocketFactory != null && connection instanceof HttpsURLConnection) {
            ((HttpsURLConnection) connection).setSSLSocketFactory(sslSocketFactory);
        }
        return connection;
    }

    /**
     * Executes the request and processes the response.
     *

            if (hv != null) {
                ((HttpsURLConnection) this.connection).setHostnameVerifier(hv);
            }
            if (ssf != null) {
                ((HttpsURLConnection) this.connection).setSSLSocketFactory(ssf);
            }
        }

        this.connection.setRequestMethod(this.method);
        this.headerFields = null;

        this.dnsResolver = dnsResolver;
    }

    /**
     * Sets the SSL socket factory.
     * @param sslSocketFactory The SSL socket factory.
     */
    public void setSslSocketFactory(final LayeredConnectionSocketFactory sslSocketFactory) {
        this.sslSocketFactory = sslSocketFactory;
    }