Five Republican presidential candidates are set to take the stage in Miami on Wednesday night for the third debate of the 2024 GOP primary cycle. With pressure mounting and time running out to shake up the race, the candidates will once again be denied a shot at their biggest rival, former President Donald Trump.

Hosting the two-hour debate is NBC News, and it is set to kick off at 8 p.m. ET at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County. The Republican National Committee selected the Salem Radio Network and the Republican Jewish Coalition as partners for the event.

The participating candidates include Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott. With only five candidates on stage, the dynamic is expected to be very different from the previous crowded debates, which often devolved into a porridge of overlapping slogans and one-liners.

The battle for second place has intensified, with DeSantis and Haley engaging in a war of words ahead of the debate. Haley even released a campaign statement calling the Florida governor a liar. Meanwhile, Trump seeks to upstage his opponents by hosting a rally in nearby Hialeah, Florida, starting at 7 p.m. ET.

In a recent interview on the Clay Travis & Buck Sexton radio show, Trump stated that he would consider one of the five debate candidates or former Fox News host Tucker Carlson as a running mate if he wins the GOP presidential nomination next year.

Although Trump is skipping the debate, he remains the clear front-runner for the 2024 Republican nomination. Average national polls show that Trump's lead has continued to grow in recent months, particularly at the expense of DeSantis, his top rival. However, Haley has made significant gains and now poses a threat to DeSantis' position as the top non-Trump alternative.

Polls and experts predict that the Republican primary field is increasingly becoming a two-person contest between Haley and DeSantis, as they vie to challenge Trump for the nomination. Haley has seen a rise in popularity, surpassing DeSantis in polls of voters in Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina.

The Miami debate presents an opportunity for DeSantis to boost his fundraising efforts, which have already been on the upswing since receiving an endorsement from Iowa GOP Gov. Kim Reynolds. However, some of the Republican Party's wealthiest donors have not shown support for DeSantis at this time.

Viewers can watch the debate live on NBC TV channel at 8 p.m. ET, or stream it for free on NBC News NOW available on NBCNews.com, Peacock, and other streaming services. The event is being held at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County, with the Salem Radio Network and the Republican Jewish Coalition as partners.