As race day looms, thoughts are beginning to turn to who will be the men to beat on Saturday.
Unfortunately, Irish winners at the first international road race of the year in Portstewart have become an increasingly rare commodity in recent years, with the event dominated by the likes of Englishman Steve Plater and Bruce Anstey from New Zealand, who romped to a superb hat-trick a year ago.
Perhaps our best hopes of a popular 'home' victory on Saturday lie in the Superstock race, when it could be argued that the playing field becomes a little more level.
Last year, Alastair Seeley from Carrickfergus rode superbly to finish in second position behind Bruce Anstey in the competitive production-based class and the Ulsterman will be hoping he can go one better this weekend, when he rides in the colours of the JMF Millsport Racing Yamaha Team.
Dungannon ace and multiple Irish champion, Ryan Farquhar, is raving about his new Kawasaki ZX-10 Superstock machine and the 30-year-old will be giving 110 per cent as always as he bids for a coveted victory for Cookstown businessman and loyal backer, Winston McAdoo.
On the plus side, Ballymoney veteran, Robert Dunlop, remains the most successful rider in the history of the event with 15 victories to his credit and the wily Co Antrim star, whose last win was achieved in the 125cc class two years ago, has a double chance of adding to his tally.
Dunlop has entered the 250cc race on Roy Hanna's TSR Honda and will use all his technical experience to ensure that Hanna's machine is prepared to perfection come race day.
Robert's biggest rivals in the race could turn out to be his two sons, William and Michael, who have each secured what should prove to be very rapid machines and what a race it would be if the Dunlop trio were nose-to-tail throughout the four-lapper on Saturday!