All Ontarians are about to receive a formal introduction to PC Party Leader Doug Ford, and if enough of them like what they see and hear he may well be the next premier of Ontario.

Tonight’s first of three debates for the main party leaders will serve as a debut of sorts for Ford. Though he’s been crisscrossing the province meeting with his party’s faithful, his performance in the debate will determine whether he can convince undecided voters, and even Liberal and NDP supporters, that he’s not the caricature his opponents have made him out to be.

And for Ford, he has no margin of error in the debate. He will have to put up a near perfect score, as expectations for him are far higher than the other two leaders. In other words, this is Ford’s to lose.

His two main opponents, NDP Leader Andrea Horwath and Liberal Premier Kathleen Wynne, are both seasoned, and effectual debaters. Ford has not been in this position – ever – and the PC Party leadership “debates” hardly served as appropriate training ground for what will be hurled at him in tonight’s battle hosted by City TV.

So what can we expect from the three leaders in what will undoubtedly be a defining moment before the June 7 election?

Horwath, who has hardly been seen these last few months, is expected to tout her NDP’s recently released platform and focus on her party’s main priorities from investing in health care to putting Hydro One back into public hands.

Expect Horwath to also make a rigorous case against any type of privatization and vociferously oppose program spending cuts. Pretty standard NDP fare.

But here’s where it gets tricky for the NDP leader. Since Wynne’s Liberals have tacked so far to the left – borrowing some of the NDP’s ideas – by offering “free” (read: taxpayer funded) prescription drugs for youth and seniors, “free” day care, “free” tuition and free unicorns, there is little room left for Horwath to differentiate her party from the Liberals.

The only possible argument she can make is the Liberals have governed for 15 years and have had plenty of time to make these changes, but have been asleep at the switch, only making these promises on the eve of an election.

It wouldn’t be an inaccurate assessment, however, whether Horwath can sell that to voters remains to be seen.

For Wynne, who can hardly run on her Liberals’ abysmal financial, scandal plagued, deficit hiding, politically corrupt record, she has little choice but to take direct aim at Ford with her “care not cuts” mantra.

The premier will not hesitate to drudge up the left’s favourite boogeymen – Mike Harris, Stephen Harper and Donald Trump. She will be negative, but in her Premier Mom tone.

As for Ford, his task will be to make a convincing case as to why the Liberals are way passed their expiration date, and how the NDP experiment is an equally dangerous one, all the while maintaining a measured tone.

Ford will want to debate the Liberal record, while the other two will go personal against him.

He will be hit with the Green Belt mini controversy and more recently, having to dump leadership rival Tanya Granic Allan from the PC ranks, which was unquestionably the right decision.

And almost assuredly both Wynne and Horwath will repeat ad nauseam how Ford is only worried about the so-called “rich” people.

Though it’s tempting to take the bait when you’re attacked from all sides, Ford has to be cognizant he cannot be perceived as “mansplaining,” sarcastic or unserious.

Very few people can pull all of this off, but Ford has been consistently disciplined so far during the campaign. He also has the weight of four PC election losses on his shoulders, and no seat in the legislature.

As his late brother Rob would have said to him – “no pressure buddy!”