Presidential debate will be at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York

Photos show that Clinton's and Trump's podiums are of different sizes

Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton will have podiums of different sizes during their first presidential debate on Monday as new opinion polls put the bitter rivals neck and neck.

The two nominees will debate for 90 minutes straight on Monday starting at 9pm ET, with no commercial break. The event will take place at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, with NBC News' Lester Holt as a moderator.

Reports previously claimed that Clinton's campaign had requested a custom-made podium to make up for the difference in height between the two nominees.

Clinton is 5'4" and Trump is 6'2". Her campaign first asked that she debate on a step-stool so as not to appear smaller than Trump, according to The Drudge Report.

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Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump will have podiums of different sizes during Monday's debate. One of them is bigger than the other, as shown in this picture shared by reporter Rita Cosby

It is unclear which podium will go to which candidate (one of them is pictured). Cosby added on Twitter that she had been told that plywood had been added

Two students stood in as Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton during the last preparations for the presidential debate on Sunday in Hempstead, New York

Clinton is 5'4" and Trump is 6'2". Her campaign reportedly first asked that she debate on a step-stool so as not to appear smaller than Trump

But the presidential debate commission rejected the request and instead allowed Clinton to have a custom-made podium, the website reported.

Photos shared by WABC reporter Rita Cosby on Sunday appear to show that the two podiums are of different sizes.

It is unclear which podium is destined to which candidate. But it would make sense for Clinton to use the smaller podium, which seems more adequate for a shorter person.

The debate is seen as crucial in deciding the outcome of November's crucial election.

Tens of millions of people are expected to tune into the 90-minute showdown when it kicks off at 9pm.

The contrast between the two candidates on the stage will be fascinating, with Clinton, who has more than 40 years of public service behind her as well as a stint as secretary of state, to the billionaire reality TV star.

The debate is being held one day after a Washington Post-ABC News poll revealed that Clinton's slim advantage over Trump from last month has evaporated.

She is tied with Trump at 41 percent among registered voters, with Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson at seven percent and Green Party candidate Jill Stein at two per cent, according to the poll.

In a two-way match-up, Trump and Clinton were even at 46 per cent of registered voters. The survey showed a statistical tie among likely voters as well.

Jeb Bush also seemed preoccupied with his height in September last year, when he was spotted standing on his tip toes while posing with his fellow Republican candidates

The debate will begin at 9 pm ET on Monday and will last for 90 minutes straight. Pictured, two Hofstra University students walk on stage Sunday

Monday's debate will be divided into six time segments of approximately 15 minutes, which will focus on major topics selected by Holt. Pictured are Sunday's preparations

Many analysts say debates usually don't win candidates the election but can well lose it for them. A single sentence or the slightest slip can do serious damage.

Clinton's running mate Tim Kaine said: 'I think this thing will be close right up until the end. We have to make our case every day. The debates are a great way to do that.'

The Clinton campaign, which hopes its candidate becomes the first female president in US history, expressed concern Sunday over a double standard, with a number of experts saying the bar has been raised higher for Clinton.

NBC News' Lester Holt will moderate Monday's first presidential debate. His stand-in was pictured next to Trump's and Clinton's replacements Sunday

Clinton campaign manager Robbie Mook said: 'It's unfair to ask that Hillary Clinton both play traffic cop with Trump, make sure that his lies are corrected, and also to present her vision for what she wants to do for the American people.'

The Clinton team is concerned that the moderator, Lester Holt of NBC, will toss simpler 'softball' questions in Trump's direction while pressing Clinton with a much more challenging interrogation.

Mook said: 'All that we're asking is that if Donald Trump lies, that it's pointed out.'

But Trump has already stated that he does not believe Holt's purpose as moderator is to police each candidate.

Debate mind games were also on display as Trump threatened to invite Gennifer Flowers, a former lover of Bill Clinton, to watch the high-stakes battle from a front-row seat.

Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway said it was meant to show the New York billionaire had ways 'to get inside the head of Hillary Clinton' but she told CNN there were no plans to actually invite Flowers.

Nine per cent of voters by some estimates still don't know who to cast their ballot for, after a long campaign in which bitter attacks have often replaced talk of substance.

And this year has been like none in the past, with Trump using social media around the clock in combative fashion, while often making mistakes, misstatements and blunders that do not seem to trouble his base.

Ahead of the debates Clinton has been cloistered with aides and her papers at home in Chappaqua, north of New York, even practicing with relatives playing Trump.

She has been focusing on his psychological profile, with a goal to get Trump to crack, to show that he can't control himself and lacks the even-handed temperament a president needs.

ABC, CBS, C-Span, NBC, Fox, MSNBC, CNN, Fox News and Univision will broadcast the debate. Pictured, a technician makes adjustments on Sunday

Trumps stand-in, a male student from Hostra University, where the debate will take place, sported a ponytail and a dark suit with a red tie - one of Trump's signature outfits

If he reacts by attacking, Trump risks losing votes from women; he already has a harder time with women voters, and they make up 53 percent of those who turn out.

Trump in turn says his debate practice is 'going very well', trying to at least appear relaxed. Amid preparations, he has continued with campaign rallies, including Saturday night in Roanoke, Virginia.

On Sunday both candidates met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump later issued a statement pledging to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's 'undivided capital' if elected.

Clinton, making her second presidential bid, is an old hand at debates and considered solid - so in some ways, she may have more to lose.

Some 88 per cent of Americans say they believe she is smart, but in the latest poll 66 per cent said they do not find her honest.

In addition, Clinton's image has been sullied by Trump attacks over her email scandal, the Clinton Foundation's alleged pay-to-play donations, and her ties to Wall Street.

The debate's topics have been announced as 'America's direction', 'achieving prosperity' and 'securing America'. Pictured, workers install the set on Saturday

Some 57 per cent have a negative opinion of Clinton who they see as cerebral, distant or cold. Trump's negative numbers are virtually identical.

The DailyMail.com has reached out to Clinton's campaign to clarify whether her podium will be different from Trump's.

'Her team wanted the podium modified or a box added so she won't look short next to Trump,' Cosby told the New York Daily News.

'One is clearly larger than the other.'

Cosby added on Twitter that she had been told that plywood had been added.

ABC, CBS, C-Span, NBC, Fox, MSNBC, CNN, Fox News and Univision will broadcast the debate. There will also be several live-streams online, including on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Both nominees met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in New York City Sunday as the debate preparations wrapped up.

And two new polls raised the stakes for the first presidential debate — with Clinton and Trump locked in a virtual tie and one-third of likely voters saying the face-off could determine their choice.

Students from Hofstra University were pictured on the debate stage, with a male student behind Trump's podium and a female student's behind Clinton's podium.

Trump's stand-in, a young man with a ponytail, wore a black suit with a red tie - an outfit that Trump has worn many times on the campaign trail.

The student was pictured raising his right index finger while talking on Sunday, as if to mimic one of Trump's signature moves.

Clinton's stand-in wore a black pantsuit and appeared to rest her hands on the podium while talking.

Trump and Clinton both devoted part of the last day before the debate to meeting Netanyahu, who was in New York City for the United Nations' General Assembly.

Trump and Clinton both devoted part of the last day before the debate to meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump is pictured shaking his hand Sunday at Trump Tower

Netanyahu met the GOP nominee at Trump Tower in Manhattan on Sunday morning and the two spoke for nearly 90 minutes about military assistance, security and regional stability, according to Israeli and campaign officials.

'Mr Trump acknowledged that Jerusalem has been the eternal capital of the Jewish People for over 3,000 years, and that the United States, under a Trump administration, will finally accept the long-standing Congressional mandate to recognize Jerusalem as the undivided capital of the State of Israel,' his campaign said.

Clinton met Netanyahu in the evening at the W Hotel in Union Square according to ABC News. They spoke for about 50 minutes.

She expressed her commitment to the US-Israel alliance and pledged to work with Israel to enforce and implement the nuclear deal with Iran and to fight terrorism.

Clinton and Netanyahu also discussed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and she expressed her support for a two-state solution.

Trump established himself as an unpredictable debater during the primary season, calling out other candidates when they rolled out prepared answers and making abundant use of nicknames he had made up for his adversaries.