The Upper Bann constituency is, in many ways, central to Northern politics. Its main town, Portadown, and the surrounding area, has been marked for centuries by its intense sectarianism. The parish church of Drumcree lies in the constituency's heart. The beating to death of Robbie Hamill in Portadown last year, witnessed by the RUC, is an open wound for local nationalists.
The constituency takes in the large conurbations of Lurgan, Craigavon and Portadown. It includes a major regional hospital. There have been a number of industrial closures recently, which, added to existing high unemployment, means much deprivation in both communities.
To the east of the constituency lies the quiet market town of Banbridge, with a population of about 13,000. While there are few jobs in the town, many residents commute 24 miles to Belfast.
The constituency as a whole has a substantial unionist majority, and elects David Trimble as its MP. But that is not to say he has no problems here - although the UUP has four candidates and is hoping for three seats it may end up with just two.
The wild card is Mr Denis Watson, Grand Master of the Co Armagh Orange Lodge and a member of the UUP executive. He opposed the Belfast Agreement and stands as a United Unionist candidate in co-operation with the DUP and the UK Unionists.
The DUP is fielding two candidates, both Craigavon councillors. They are Mr Mervyn Carrick and Ms Ruth Allen. The UK Unionist Party is fielding Mr David Vance, from the Banbridge area. Between them they hope to sweep up transfers for Mr Watson and ensure his election, alongside a DUP candidate.
Although the DUP only had 11.5 per cent of the vote last time, Ms Allen said they were confident it would take one seat. This might be helped by transfers from Mr Kenneth McClinton, a former loyalist prisoner who was close to Billy Wright, and who is now a Christian pastor.
Mr Mark Neale, a UUP candidate, was optimistic despite the Watson candidacy. "The battle we need now is to find the best candidates to run Northern Ireland," he said.
Disunity within unionist ranks just might create an opportunity for a third non-unionist candidate. The front-runner among the nationalists is veteran SDLP campaigner Brid Rogers. "This is the first time in 28 years I've run in a winnable seat," she said.
She got 24 per cent of the vote last time. She is as sure of a seat as anyone can be in politics, and she is hoping to bring in her running mate, Cllr Mel Byrne.
But this will depend on vote management to ensure he stays ahead of Sinn Fein. In 1997 Bernadette O'Hagan of Sinn Fein got 12 per cent of the vote. But this election they are splitting the vote between two candidates, Dara O'Hagan, daughter of Bernadette, and local councillor Mr Francie Murray. If one of them stays ahead of Mr Byrne they have a good chance of a seat.
This leaves the last seat, which could go to a second SDLP candidate, another unionist, or maybe the Alliance Party candidate, Mr Frank McQuaid. There are 3,000 votes for the party in the constituency, and he thinks he can push it up to 4,000. He hopes he will stay long enough in the race to pick up enough transfers.
Candidates - UUP: Samuel Gardiner, Mark Neale, George Savage, David Trimble; SDLP: Mel Byrne, Brid Rogers; Sinn Fein: Francie Murray, Dara O'Hagan; DUP: Ruth Allen, Mervyn Carrick; Alliance: Frank McQuaid; United Unionist: Denis Watson; UKUP: David Vance; UIM: Kenneth McClinton; Lab: Alan Evans; WP: Tom French; NL: Jack Lyons; Ind: Brian Silcock.
Westminster 1997 - UUP: 43 per cent; SDLP: 24 per cent; SF: 12 per cent; DUP: 11.5 per cent; All: 6 per cent; WP: 1 per cent, Con: 1 per cent; NLP: 0.23 per cent.