This is prime nationalist/republican territory which is targeted by both Sinn Féin and the SDLP. It is Sinn Féin's strongest constituency outside West Belfast, and the party is keen to consolidate its grip on the three Assembly seats it won in 1998.
The SDLP came very close to taking a second seat last time, and it insists that a better vote-management strategy and effective transferring will land it the prize that eluded it in 1998.
The constituency has been reviewed significantly over the years, and now includes the entire Cookstown and Magherafelt District Council areas as well as the Coalisland end of the Dungannon area.
It is nearly two-thirds Catholic, and has one of the North's highest age profiles.
Sinn Féin is running four candidates. Outgoing Assembly members Mr Martin McGuinness, the former education minister, and Mr Francie Molloy are joined by new candidates Ms Geraldine Dougan and Ms Cora Groogan.
They line up against the same SDLP candidates which were selected in 1998. They are Mr Denis Haughey, a junior minister in the Executive, and Mr Patsy McGlone, who was once his party's general secretary.
The Rev William McCrea is standing for the DUP, having topped the poll last time, and he is joined by Mr Alan Miller. For the Ulster Unionists, the outgoing Assembly member Mr Billy Armstrong is joined by Mr Trevor Wilson.
Alliance and the Workers' Party are represented by Mr James Holmes and Mr Francie Donnelly.
Sinn Féin is confident it can win three seats. It points to a performance by Mr McGuinness in the 2001 Westminster election when he got over 50 per cent of the vote. In the local government elections the same day, Sinn Féin took 40 per cent of first preferences to the SDLP's 20 per cent.
The SDLP says a 50 per cent fall in the postal vote total will hit Sinn Féin, as will the new voter-identity regulations and a smaller electoral register.
The DUP and Ulster Unionists seats seem secure.