While it would be a major upset if the DUP's Nigel Dodds was un-seated as sitting North Belfast MP, the real interest will be on the battles within nationalism and unionism.
With more 'peacelines' and contentious marches than any other constituency, North Belfast is one of the north's most divided communities – and as a result the electorate is highly politicised.
The seat has traditionally been assured for unionists but the gap between nationalist and unionist votes is narrowing all the time.
The religious breakdown of the constituency stood at 51.86% Protestant and 44.93% Catholic in the last census.
It is no surprise that the DUP and Sinn Féin are now the two largest parties. In the 2003 assembly election the DUP and Sinn Féin each took two seats, with the Ulster Unionists and SDLP securing one apiece.
In 2001 Mr Dodds took the Westminster seat from Ulster Unionist Cecil Walker, who had represented north Belfast since 1983.
While the election was arguably decided by a disastrous performance by Mr Walker during a TV debate between the candidates, it is likely that Mr Dodds would have won regardless.
It would also be a political upset if the DUP barrister did not retain the seat again this year, although Sinn Féin's Gerry Kelly has narrowed the gap in recent elections.
In the last Westminster poll the DUP took 41% of the votes, compared to Sinn Féin's 26% – a gap of 6,400. But in 2003 the gap narrowed to just 2,262, indicating that the future could see North Belfast become a 'marginal' unionist seat.
The most interesting aspect of the May 5 election will be the internal battles within unionism and nationalism.
Fred Cobain will carry the banner for Ulster Unionists against Mr Dodds, while Alban Maginness will lead the SDLP's fight against Gerry Kelly.
Cecil Walker held North Belfast for 18 years but that was largely because he was unopposed by the DUP.
In 2001 the UUP vote plummeted to just 4,904 votes and it would be a disaster if Mr Cobain did not improve his party's performance this time around.
But while Mr Cobain is a political veteran, he must be concerned that he picked up just 2,961 votes in the 2003 assembly election.
On the nationalist side, Alban Maginness will do well to arrest the rise of Sinn Féin.
In the 1998 assembly election, the nationalist parties were neck and neck on 21% each.
In 2001, Mr Kelly had edged ahead by 1,739 votes.
But by the 2003 assembly election, the gap between the parties had grown to 3,210. Mr Kelly's personal vote of 5,524 was more than the combined votes of the two SDLP candidates.
Realistically, Sinn Féin can only cause a major upset in North Belfast if they manage to persuade a sizable number of traditional SDLP voters to change preference.
For its part, the SDLP will be hoping that the controversy over the Northern Bank robbery and the murder of Robert McCartney will damage republicans at the polls.
However, recent controversy over the SDLP's decision not to accept Martin Morgan's late offer to run as a candidate in the council election could damage the party vote in the north of the city.
Mr Morgan had been seen as a rising star in the SDLP, having been lord mayor of Belfast and the party's candidate in the 2003 European Election.
However, he sparked a dispute within the party over comments that the SDLP should reconsider its position on the Policing Board, following a police decision to allow a loyalist march to pass Ardoyne.
Mr Morgan initially ann-ounced that he would not stand again for Belfast City Council but reversed that decision earlier this year and offered himself as a candidate.
The SDLP did not take up the offer and it is unclear how his absence will affect the SDLP vote.
Three other candidates are also standing in the Westminster poll – Marjorie Hawkins (Alliance), Marcella Delaney (Workers Party) and Lynda Gilby (Vote for Yourself Rainbow Dream Ticket) – but are unlikely to have a significant impact on the overall result.
