Hardline unionists tonight predicted the tense Drumcree demonstration by Orangemen could pass off free of major violence.
As security forces finalised arrangements to block Sunday's march on to the nationalist Garvaghy Road in Portadown, Co Armagh, a senior member of the Rev Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionist Party said he believed there would be little sign of the violence which has erupted in previous years.
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Orangemen at Drumcree last year
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Mr Paul Berry, a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly, whose Newry and Armagh constituency borders the Portadown area said: "I personally think everything will go to plan. Certainly there will be the usual protest on the Sunday but come July 12, everyone will go to their own parades.
"The only fear is that there could be a vacuum left for a paramilitary show of strength."
Up to 1,600 additional troops are in place as preparations were finalised for Sunday's march, which has been banned from the flashpoint Garvaghy Road since 1998.
Senior churchmen today appealed for calm and restraint from all sides, and appealed to paramilitaries to stay away from the demonstration.
Ms Brid Rodgers, Social Democratic and Labour Party Assembly member for Upper Bann, accused the Orange Order of letting terrorists become involved in the protest.
But Portadown Orange spokesman Mr David Jones said they welcomed support from any quarter as long as it was peaceful.
"As long as people behave in a very peaceful manner then anyone can come along to the protest, whether they belong to any group or not," he said.
Meanwhile at Hillsborough in Co Down, pro-agreement parties were today engaged in talks with Secretary of State Dr John Reid in advance of next week's make or break negotiations in Britain.
Speaking outside the talks, the North’s former First Minister, Mr David Trimble said the talks hosted by the Taoiseach MrBertie Ahern and British Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair would be dominated by IRA decommissioning and he was not optimistic at the chances of a breakthrough.
A Sinn Fein delegation said the outcome of the negotiations would have to be based on the Good Friday Agreement.
The two leaders are expected to meet at Chequers on Monday morning and make a joint statement before they set off for the talks venue at Weston Park, in Shropshire.
PA