The seat being left vacant by the former Progressive Democrats leader, Mr Des O'Malley, in Limerick East will be keenly fought over by all the political parties.
The wild card will be the independent candidate, the lecturer Mr Denis Riordan, whose challenges to the Mr Hugh O'Flaherty nomination to the European Investment Bank have given him national prominence.
Fine Gael will be seeking a second seat in the five-seater constituency. Mr Michael Noonan, who took a second seat for his party when first elected in 1981, believes Fine Gael will regain a position last held 13 years ago.
Fine Gael lost its second seat in 1987 as a result of the fallout from the formation of the Progressive Democrats. It gave Mr O'Malley a new appeal as leader of a party which stole some of Fine Gael's attraction and also returned Mr Peadar Clohessy for the PDs. Mr Clohessy retired in 1997 and is now being followed by Mr O'Malley.
Mr Noonan's running mate will be Senator Mary Jackman, who topped the poll in Castleconnell in last year's county council elections.
But the O'Malley name will still be flying in Limerick East with Mr Tim O'Malley, a county councillor and cousin of Des, vying to hold the seat for the PDs.
Labour will have a seasoned campaigner in the Mayor of Limerick, Cllr John Ryan, who will be joining Ms Jan O'Sullivan TD on the ticket.
Mr Willie O'Dea, the poll-topping Fianna Fail TD, who brought in his colleague, Mr Eddie Wade TD, on transfers says the O'Malley seat is an open one. "The circumstances can change totally once the whistle is blown and the ball is in."