Around 30,000 people are expected to march through the city, marking 100 years since the Ulster Covenant was signed.

The parade route passes a number of contentious areas, including St Patrick's Church on the Donegall Road, where a loyalist band played an allegedly sectarian tune on the Twelfth of July.

PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggott said: "Tomorrow the PSNI will be working hard to ensure that the Ulster Covenant parade takes place peacefully and in a way that brings credit to all concerned.

"I know that this is the wish of the vast majority across all communities and I would ask for the fullest co-operation with police in helping us to keep everyone safe. I am grateful for both the political and local leadership that should make this possible."

Unionist leaders added their support to the Chief Constable's call during a special Ulster Covenant dinner in Titanic Belfast on Friday evening.

First Minister Peter Robinson said: "I think we should look back 100 years at the way that day was conducted in Belfast, with tens of thousands of people, indeed hundreds of thousands of people coming forward.

"It was a solemn day, it was a peaceful day, it was a day of reverence, and I think it would be a tribute and recognition of our forefathers if that were to be repeated tomorrow."

Ulster Unionist Party leader Mike Nesbitt said events at Saturday's parade will "set a benchmark" for significant events in the coming years, which include Home Rule, the Gaelic revival and the campaign for women's suffrage.

It will set a benchmark for the next decade of centenaries, and I would just ask everybody taking part - supporting or even protesting - to do so with respect and let’s do so with a spirit of generosity which will stand us on good stead over the next ten years.

Mike Nesbitt

"There's no need for violence tomorrow. This is a celebration," commented Mr Nesbitt.

The joint event between the Ulster Unionist and Democratic Unionist parties marked the beginning of the centenary celebrations and those present included Secretary of State Theresa Villiers and the Mayor of Belfast.

For Mr Robinson, the evening was a chance to celebrate the signing of the Ulster Covenant with other Unionists.

"It's our opportunity to recognise that it was, in fact, an action that led to the birth of Northern Ireland and perhaps to notice how times have changed. The union is now stronger than ever it has been I'm sure that's something that Carson and Craig would have been very proud of," he added.

Mr Robinson said both party leaders took a step back from their politics to join together and remember those who founded Unionism, and recognise "that there are some things that we have in common, some things that are very important to us and indeed are cherished by those that we represent".

"We are jointly celebrating the legacy of Carson and Craig, my predecessors as leaders of Ulster Unionism," added Mr Nesbitt.

"I think it's good that it was for all Unionists but it's not a sign of Unionist unity, because now that the union is secure from Irish nationalism we need to be looking at offering people choice in terms of bread and butter issues."