In just three weeks, about one million voters will go to the polls in Northern Ireland to decide on the future shape of politics there and to influence the kind of society that will emerge. It will be a decisive moment in charting the way forward in the shadow of the Belfast Agreement. And the outcome may threaten the political careers of SDLP leader Mark Durkan and Ulster Unionist Party leader David Trimble.
The seismic shocks that convulsed the political establishment following the Westminster and local elections of 2001 are continuing to be felt. The Rev Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionist Party is now intent on obliterating the UUP, which retains five Westminster seats, and in thrashing the political aspirations of its leader, Mr Trimble. Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams has similar designs on the three seats held by the SDLP. And Mr Durkan is fighting for his political life.
The conventional wisdom is that, because of their high profile and superior discipline, electoral gains will continue to be made by the DUP and Sinn Féin. There is even talk of a political meltdown involving the UUP and the SDLP. Invariably, however, there is a tendency to exaggerate. Political parties and their leaders are highly resilient.
There is no disguising the threat that exists to the implementation of the Belfast Agreement as the unionist parties draw their battle lines. The DUP has pledged not to implement certain aspects of the agreement in return for the withdrawal of an Independent unionist candidate in North Down. And Dr Paisley has, once again, ruled out sharing power with Sinn Féin. For its part, the UUP and Mr Trimble have appealed to the unionist middle ground and offered moderate and constructive politics in a deeply divided society.
Sinn Féin has been under serious pressure since last December because of IRA activities ranging from the murder of Robert McCartney, to the Northern Bank robbery, extensive money laundering and other criminal deeds.
But an open-ended public appeal by Mr Adams for the IRA to give up its undemocratic activities may help to sustain the Sinn Féin vote and even to increase it.
The SDLP and Mr Durkan are keenly aware that some of their traditional voters favoured Sinn Féin on the last occasion in order to encourage the development of normal politics and to bring an end to IRA activities. The party is understandably suspicious of the timing and motivation behind Mr Adams's overture to the IRA. And it is offering clean politics, a real peace and decent nationalism to the electorate.
Apart from the Westminster seats, voters will allocate nearly 600 local government places across Northern Ireland and decide whether the DUP and Sinn Féin will emerge at the head of a new pecking order.
Battle has now been joined. It is likely to be a bitter and divisive campaign.