Plaid leader looks to make mark on TV election debate

This TV election debate represents the biggest chance that any Plaid Cymru leader has ever had to make a mark on a UK election. But that also poses a risk for Leanne Wood: it could become the biggest missed opportunity.

So, when she takes her place on the stage between Labour leader Ed Miliband and the SNP's Nicola Sturgeon, the pressure on her will be intense. The danger is not that she will embarrass herself nor that she will be ganged up on by the other leaders, but that she could be ignored.

The SNP poll surge and the likelihood or otherwise of the party working with Labour means that everything Nicola Sturgeon says will be heavily scrutinised. Green leader Natalie Bennett may have hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons, but at least she has hit the headlines. And if you pay the slightest attention to the news, you can't get away from David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg.

In the midst of that melee, there's a chance that whatever Leanne Wood says will be simply drowned out.

What she has to persuade viewers outside Wales that Plaid Cymru can be relevant and play an influential role in the next parliament. Her best bet is to argue that the likelihood of there being no overall winner means that the votes of the smaller parties will be sought after and that Plaid Cymru MPs will use whatever opportunity they have to further the party's agenda.

Ahead of the debate, Plaid are calling it a chance to 'take Wales from the shadows to the spotlight.' That's also an accurate description of what it offers the party itself. It's up to Leanne Wood to make sure she can stand up to the glare.