"DON'T write us off, " Mary Harney warned last weekend when questioned about the Progressive Democrats' election prospects.

Harney's words should be heeded, as five years ago she faced into an election with herself and Liz O'Donnell as the only outgoing PD TDs. But then Michael McDowell returned to the party fold and Tom Parlon was recruited, and when the votes were counted, Harney was joined by seven successful party colleagues in Dail Eireann. This time, however, the pressure is far greater;

even within Fianna Fail there is little confidence that its 10year arrangement with the PDs will yield enough seats to form another stable coalition.

The PDs publish their general election manifesto this morning but already it seems Michael McDowell's first electoral outing as PD leader could return the party to the opposition benches for the first time since 1997.

1. Michael McDowell, Dublin South East McDowell has never won backto-back general elections but this time should be the exception. As party leader, he will receive a lot of media attention focusing on coalition partners for Fine Gael and Fianna Fail.

Election rating: Safe

2. Mary Harney, Dublin Mid-West Harney has never been a huge vote winner, but she has had a 25-year uninterrupted Dail career. Her retirement as leader may cost her votes.

There may also be negative sentiment arising from her performance as health minister, but her constituency has gained a seat since 1997.

Election rating: Should be safe

3. Liz O'Donnell, Dublin South O'Donnell has never lost an electoral contest, but Dublin South has a history of tossing out big names. This time she is under more pressure, with fewer Fianna Fail transfers likely and a group of Fine Gael and Labour candidates targeting her seat. Alan Shatter could make a Dail return at O'Donnell's expense.

Election rating: Precarious

4. Tim O'Malley, Limerick East Fine Gael is targeting the seat won by Tim O'Malley in 2002, but the value of the O'Malley name in Limerick politics should not be underestimated.

Election rating: A tight contest

5. Noel Grealish, Galway West With three candidates last time out, the PDs won a seat here either by superb vote management or considerable luck. Grealish has worked the constituency over the past five years but a repeat of 2002 will be difficult. The Greens could take a seat here at the PDs' expense.

Election rating: Precarious

6. Fiona O'Malley, Dun Laoghaire The daughter of former PD leader Des O'Malley is a media favourite and a hard worker in her constituency. But those attributes will count for little if her vote drops. Fine Gael should take back a seat in Dun Laoghaire and O'Malley is the most likely loser.

Election rating: On the cliff edge

7. Tom Parlon, Laois-Offaly The man from self-styled 'Parlon country' is battling for his political life. An uplift in Fine Gael support should see Charlie Flanagan joining Olwyn Enright in Dail Eireann, and Parlon and Sean Fleming of Fianna Fail may end up scrapping for the final seat.

Election rating: Decentralised

8. Mae Sexton, Longford-Westmeath Sexton's success in LongfordRoscommon was one of the biggest shocks in 2002. Constituency revisions have thrown Sexton into the new Longford-Westmeath constituency. Even PD colleagues privately write off her chances.

Election rating: A goner Others With its sitting TDs under such pressure there seems to be little chance for the PDs' target candidates, including John Minihan (Cork North Central), Colm O'Gorman (Wexford), Jane Mullins (Kildare South) and Frank McNamara (Dublin South Central).