Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams predicted last night (Friday) that his party will take at least an additional four seats in the election to become the largest nationalist party in the assembly.
In the last assembly election Sinn Féin had 18 seats and the SDLP 24 seats.
Mr Adams said that with just 11 days to go, the canvass returns from all 18 constituencies "are very positive".
"Sinn Féin will be seeking to nominate a first or deputy first minister after this election. We will also seek to continue the work we have advanced in education and health," he said.
Mr Adams said that the peace process itself was initiated and has been continuously energised by Sinn Féin.
"Sinn Féin brought forward a peace strategy which has already brought about huge progress. There is more to do. The agreement must be implemented. That is why we went into the negotiations and that is why we will stay there until the rights of all have been achieved," he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Adams urged unionist voters to "make a quantum leap" in the assembly election and back his party.
"Those unionists who live in deprived areas and economically disadvantaged areas, what value is the union for them?," he said.
"Those unionists who think there is going to be a united Ireland anyway, why don't they endorse what we are doing in terms of the work that is being done across a range of issues – the seismic shifts, the quantum leaps, the imaginative initiatives which have come from republicans?"
Mr Adams accused the DUP of "engaging in a huge con trick" and dismissed as nonsense claims from the SDLP that the battle was between them and the Mr Paisley's party in key constituencies.
The DUP was also criticised by David Trimble who claimed that there were inconsistencies in Mr Paisley's claim that they would not sit in government with Sinn Féin.
"Dr Paisley is running around the countryside avoiding studios, avoiding de-bate, avoiding participating with others," Mr Trimble said.
"So here's a challenge. I have participated in debates. I have been dealing with monkeys while the organ grinder is elsewhere. Now I want to have a proper debate at leadership level."
The DUP's Nigel Dodds brushed off Mr Trimble's suggestion, claiming that it was the tactic of a leader who knew his party was losing the election.
"Mr Trimble has very little support out on the ground and within his own party," the North Belfast MP said.
"He surrounds himself with nodding dogs which he can't even allow on TV.
"In every television programme that I've seen it is Mr Trimble, Mr Trimble, Mr Trimble.
"Nobody else can be trusted to deliver the message and half his party and candidates won't even be seen anywhere near him."
Last night former Ulster Unionist leader Lord Molyneaux appeared at a speaking engagement in Magherafelt with his party colleagues David Burnside, Jeffrey Donaldson and Martin Smyth.
Lord Molyneaux said they "will stand firm in any new negotiation and not buckle under pressure."
"Our old assembly team has tried hard in Stormont but has been badly let down by both the British and Irish governments, which has dented their morale," he said.
