The general election campaign in Northern Ireland will gather pace today as parties begin to nominate candidates for the 18 Westminster constituencies.
Candidates have until next Tuesday to hand in nomination papers, but already the signs are that the battles within unionism and nationalism will be hard fought in several constituencies.
The Rev Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionists have six seats, one of which was gained through the defection of Jeffrey Donaldson from the Ulster Unionists. The UUP has five, Sinn Féin four and the nationalist SDLP three.
The DUP is looking for gains in the Ulster Unionist strongholds of East Antrim, Upper Bann, South Antrim, South Belfast and North Down.
Sinn Féin believes it will capture SDLP seats in Newry and Armagh, and possibly Foyle, and can run the party close in South Down.
Mark Durkan's SDLP is hoping to pick up a seat in South Belfast if there is an even split in the unionist vote. Challengers in two key battlegrounds, Foyle and Upper Bann, will hand in their nomination papers today.
Sinn Féin general secretary Mitchel McLaughlin will lodge his papers in Derry as the party bids to take former SDLP leader John Hume's seat in Foyle following his retirement. SDLP leader Mark Durkan has been chosen to defend his mentor's seat.
The SDLP will formally launch its local government election campaign in Belfast.
PA