So far the election campaign has been quite stagnant. It has been devoid of a "game changing" moment that might spring it into life. Like watching a scoreless soccer match, nobody has gained any marked advantage.
Cynics might say televised general election debates are merely inconsequential political theatre. But they do command huge TV audiences and can have an impact on how people vote.
Mícheál Lehane and Conor McMorrow of RTÉ's Political Staff preview tonight's leaders' debate, look at the questions the leaders need to answer, and assess if it could ignite a flat campaign?
Fine Gael's Enda Kenny
Can the Taoiseach deliver two strong TV debate performances in a row? Enda Kenny performed well in last week's TV3 debate. Following yesterday's poll drop, he cannot afford to drop the ball tonight.
Critics would say Fine Gael has focused too much on attacking Sinn Féin more than Fianna Fáil in this campaign.
Expect the Taoiseach to remind Fianna Fáil of its recent history with rhetoric such as "you drove the economy over a cliff".
The dynamic will be fundamentally different in tonight's debate as the Fine Gael leader is expected to face added attacks from the Social Democrats, Renua and AAA-PBP.
Most likely to say: "Keep the recovery going." (Again. And again!)
Least likely to say: "Let me talk to you about the fiscal space."
Labour's Joan Burton
Can Joan Burton change the narrative which suggests Labour is in for multiple seat losses?
She is under pressure and there were signs of that in last week's debate. The Labour leader started solidly enough but got lost soon after.
She even went so far as to claim that one of the country's most respected homelessness campaigners, Fr Peter McVerry, probably did not understand what the Government had done to alleviate the crisis.
She needs to improve vastly and stay focused on her party's message if she is to stand any chance of winning back the droves of voters who deserted the party in the 2014 local and European Parliament elections.
She must also curb the tendency to get drawn into petty spats and her penchant for overwrought, lengthy explanations of why Labour did what they did in Government.
Most likely to say: "Can I just say…"
Least likely to say: "We promised way too much in 2011."
Fianna Fáil's Micheál Martin
Widely seen as the winner of last week's TV3 debate, Micheál Martin is probably the best debater in the group.
But there's a sense that his political opponents have somehow allowed Fianna Fáil develop an election pitch with a narrative that started in 2011.
Expect more mature recollection from his opponents tonight as Martin will be attacked over Fianna Fáil's record in government.
As far back as a Dáil exchange in November, Enda Kenny reminded everyone that Martin is the "last political link" to the "economic catastrophe".
He is likely to be pressurised again to say sorry for the poor economic decisions taken by the last government he was such a prominent part of.
If he manages to come away from the University of Limerick unscathed it will prove that when it comes to political eloquence alone, he has no equal in Leinster House.
But will that be enough to secure his party the atonement it so badly craves from voters?
The opinion polls suggest possibly not but equally the local election results hint that a strong Fianna Fáil performance in this election is very possible.
Most likely to say: "Taoiseach you just don't get it."
Least likely to say: "If we're honest about it, there's no insurmountable difference between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil so let's get into government together and keep the recovery going."
Sinn Féin's Gerry Adams
Gerry Adams took a severe battering on justice issues in the last debate.
The party's stance on the Special Criminal Court was the main point of attack from its opponents.
But Sinn Féin can point to a hike in support in the opinion polls last week, proof perhaps that many voters view the party through a different prism to both the media and other political parties.
Can that left-leaning message Adams espouses withstand another debate where the figures and economics underpinning it will be rigorously scrutinised again?
Will the other party leaders be able to unravel or at least raise doubts about Sinn Féin's pitch to voters - or can the party leader get his promise of a "more equal society" to resonate with more voters as polling day approaches?
Most likely to say: "You broke your promises on..."
Least likely to say: "Ask me again about my exact role in the Republican Movement…"
Renua's Lucinda Creighton
This is one of the biggest nights in the political life of the Renua leader.
Her party stood at just 1% in last weekend's Sunday Business Post/Red C poll and Ms Creighton simply has to make a mark in this debate.
It said that she is like "Marmite". You either like her or hate her.
A question hanging over tonight's debate is whether she will alienate voters or attract them?
She has pitched Renua as a potential watchdog in a coalition after the election. She'll also use tonight to get a few digs in against her former party leader.
Most likely to say: "We want to change the way politics is done in this country."
Least likely to say: "If only I'd stayed in Fine Gael, I'd be a Cabinet minister today."
Anti-Austerity Alliance/People Before Profit's Richard Boyd Barrett
Expect the issues of homelessness, water charges and the health service to feature strongly in Richard Boyd's Barrett contributions tonight.
Well capable of delivering strong statements - can he fuse them with the kind of specific detail that could see him deliver serious blows on the Government parties tonight?
He will no doubt have to fend off charges that his party's policies would see middle income earners face huge tax hikes.
Questions will be raised about just how unified the AAA-PBP group would be if they had a chance to enter government.
Opponents are sure to talk about the break-up of the United Left Alliance in the aftermath of the 2011 election.
But Boyd Barrett will know the level of protest against the water charges shows his party's views have struck a chord with potentially more voters than ever before.
He will also be able to point to the successful campaign he led against the sale of Coillte, which was ultimately followed by a Government decision to retain the country's forests.
Most likely to say: "Voters need to choose between a genuine left-wing radical alternative and sticking with a status quo that has given us cronyism, tribal politics and injustice."
Least likely to say: "Fine Gael has more in common with us than they think."
Social Democrats' Stephen Donnelly
Could Stephen Donnelly be the Nicola Sturgeon of this debate?
A lot of viewers will know a lot less about him than other leaders.
He could be the surprise packet of the debate as the SNP leader was in some of the debates during last year's UK election debate.
He is strong at presenting an argument and can reasonably argue that his party's message of caution on tax cuts and more spending on public services seems to chime with public sentiment so far in this campaign.
This debate is crucial for his party, which will hope it gives its 14 candidates an increased level of prominence on the ground.
If all goes well, seasoned observes, such as Bertie Ahern, believe the Social Democrats could be the big story of Election 2016.
Most likely to say: "We believe in developing better public services."
Least likely to say: "I'm not sure ..."
Seven leaders in seven seconds:
7 leaders in 7 seconds - meet those taking part in tonight's #leadersdebate. Full profiles https://t.co/5sgzTei6e2https://t.co/MsI7WvHqyj
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) February 15, 2016
