Sinn Féin and the DUP should retain their leading positions after next Wednesday's Assembly elections, an opinion poll is forecasting.
Changes to policing policy by republicans and moves towards sharing power with Sinn Féin by the DUP have not significantly affected the support of either party.
The Rev Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionists have 25 per cent support, according to the Belfast Telegraph Ipsos Mori poll, with Sinn Féin behind on 22 per cent. This represents small drops on their votes in the 2003 Assembly elections.
Encouraging for the SDLP was their showing on 20 per cent, up from 17 per cent in 2003, and both Alliance (9 per cent) and the Greens (3 per cent) are pleased with their levels of support.
The Ulster Unionists, however, appear to have slipped further and have recorded 16 per cent support, according to this poll. This is a five-point fall since the last Assembly election in 2003.
Opinion is divided on the likelihood of a return of devolved government to Stormont with an even 50-50 split. But a two-thirds majority is doubtful that Dr Paisley and Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness can successfully work together as first minister and deputy first minister.
All poll findings have a margin of error of plus or minus 3 per cent.
DUP deputy leader Peter Robinson warned last night that the poll showed the combined votes of the main nationalist parties was larger than that of his party and the Ulster Unionists.
In a clear warning to middle-class stay-at-home unionists, Mr Robinson cautioned: "The poll demonstrates two factors within unionism. Firstly, maverick unionists are not eating into the DUP's vote and that voting for these independents and minor parties would aid Sinn Féin in reaching its goal, and secondly, the DUP is the largest unionist party - by a mile - and therefore the only party that can beat Sinn Féin and keep unionism ahead."
While the party has yet to state unequivocally that it will share power with Sinn Féin after March 26th, Dr Paisley nonetheless said yesterday his party would opt first for the finance department in the share-out of executive portfolios. This was linked to the party's opposition to water charges and to its call for an infrastructure investment programme.
Dr Paisley said the issue was "a precondition for devolution". "I want my minister to take charge of this issue," he said.
While the DUP leader directed the remarks at an issue which is a key one on the doorsteps, government sources, Sinn Féin and the Ulster Unionists took the comments as a clear indication of Dr Paisley's post-election intentions.
The Ulster Unionists' Alan McFarland accused Dr Paisley of hypocrisy. "It seems strange that they are saying there is no guarantee that there will be a government on March 26th and yet they are saying they will take this ministry to head off water charges."
The announcement came as parties on all sides voiced continued opposition to proposed water charges which come on top of domestic rate bills.
Mitchel McLaughlin of Sinn Féin called for the processing of the new bills to be delayed pending a restoration of powers to Stormont.
The SDLP's Margaret Ritchie asked why ordinary voters should have to pay for the failures of direct rule ministers over many decades.
Republican Sinn Féin's six candidates "have not been given fair coverage by the print media nor indeed by radio or television," party president Ruairí Ó Brádaigh said last night. The establishment regarded RSF's six candidates as six "Independents" and treated them as such, he said.
"Minority viewpoints are getting scant or no coverage with the notable exception of Robert McCartney and his UKUP who is himself standing as a candidate in six different constituencies."