The SDLP has recruited a number of political strategists from the Republic and Britain's Labour Party for its Assembly election campaign, it emerged today.
Many commentators have predicted a tough struggle for the party to retain its seats, as nationalist support swings towards Sinn Féin.
Former Stormont agriculture minister Ms Brid Rodgers has been appointed as the party's director of elections.
As the party embarked on campaigning in Northern Ireland's 18 constituencies across Northern Ireland, it was confirmed that her former adviser, Mr Conal McDevitt, has been drafted in to help. Belfast-born Mr Adrian McMenamin has also been recruited from the Labour Party in Britain.
Mr Jack Murray, a former adviser to Progressive Democrat junior minister Mr Tom Parlon, and Mr Ronan Farren, of the Irish Labour party, have also joined the SDLP's election team from Dublin.
The SDLP is due to preview its party election broadcast in Belfast tomorrow.
Strategists remain bullish about the party's election prospects on November 26th despite Sinn Féin's successes in the 2001 Westminster and local government elections.
Ms Rodgers today said her party had been "galvanised" by events in the peace process in recent weeks.
"People write the SDLP off at their peril in this election."