All eyes are on Kerry North this week with the publication of a TG4-commissioned opinion poll. But the southern constituency is also bracing itself for a possible shake-up with the emergence of a stronger than anticipated Fine Gael campaign as nominations close this week.
Fine Gael lost its seat 12 years ago, having held it for 20 years with Michael Begley. It has found it difficult to unite since. In 1997 it descended in the words of Jimmy Deenihan, TD in Kerry north, into political cannibalism.
The Fine Gael first-preference vote dropped and at just 13.77 per cent it was less than half a percentage point behind Labour. Fine Gael's problem has come from within, while the party has looked outside for the solution.
Earlier this year Fine Gael approached former Kerry footballer Michael Gleeson, a councillor of the South Kerry Independent Alliance.
Other high-profile sportsmen have been talked about, including Mick Galwey. But there now seems to be a new cohesion and a new willingness to look within for talent. Several hundred turned out to hear party leader Michael Noonan in Killarney late on a Friday night last month.
Four potential candidates have already declared their intention and two more are likely to throw their hats in the ring.
Those already in the ring include sitting Killarney councillor and hotel manager, Sheila Casey and Senator Paul Coghlan, both from Killarney; P.J. Donovan, a Kerry county councillor from Caherciveen; and Seamus Fitzgerald from the Dingle area.
Yet to decide are Patrick Connor-Scarteen, from Kenmare, and Johnny O'Connor from Killorglin.
"We have been quietly oiling the organisation," said Mr Fitzgerald, a sitting councillor and ┌darβs member. Mr Fitzgerald is almost certain to be on the Fine Gael ticket after the convention on November 10th, according to senior party people in Kerry.
Mr Fitzgerald (39) is a full-time farmer from the Dingle area. "The Dingle peninsula is vital to a Fine Gael seat. The last time we had a TD he was from Dingle," Mr Fitzgerald said.
"This time we have an excellent chance. There is a Fine Gael core vote - it will come down to strategy."
The other likely candidate, Mr Connor-Scarteen (24) a law graduate, was asked by headquarters to run. He has not made his mind up but he is keen to run if the party in south Kerry agrees to his conditions. He is a son of sitting councillor Michael Connor-Scarteen, and is the third generation of this Kenmare family to enter politics.
"We can take the seat on transfers. They left the Dingle Peninsula open the last two elections. People vote local now," Mr Patrick Connor -Scarteen says.
If he runs, and it is likely he will, then a big slice of Jackie Healy-Rae's vote in the Kenmare area could go back to Fine Gael.
Of the sitting TDs - John O'Donoghue (FF), Jackie Healy-Rae (Ind) and Breda Moynihan-Cronin (Lab) - the talk in Fine Gael is Labour's seat can be taken with the aid of the slice from Kenmare.
Fine Gael are hoping the Healy-Rae vote will be down. Killarney town too is there for the taking with no Fianna Fβil candidate from the town.