Don’t call them second string, because the lawyers that former Clark County Commissioner Dario Herrera hired to defend himself from federal political corruption charges are top notch. New York’s Jerry Bernstein is a former federal strike force prosecutor, and knows all the tricks, while local Tony Sgro has seen the inside of more than his share of courtrooms.

But Herrera really wanted Mayor Oscar Goodman on his side, because Herrera believes the mayor when Goodman boasts that because of his popularity, he simply could not lose a jury trial in Clark County. (Who told us that? Why, Goodman himself, several years ago. Sadly, we think he might be right.)

Instead of hire Goodman directly, Herrera initially hired relative newbie Eric Goodman, apparently hoping the old man would come along. (Mayor Goodman is well known for helping his sons whenever he can, even if the circumstances are ethically murky.) My friend and colleague Jon Ralston reported in his FLASH newsletter Monday that the elder Goodman went so far as to review papers before deciding not to defend Herrera. (Too bad; we would have loved to see how that would have affected the legendary Goodman popularity. And what legal strategy would he use? “There’s no such thing as a commissioner-bribing person called Michael Galardi, jurors!”

Once he saw he wasn’t going to get the legendary Oscar Goodman at the defense table, Herrera dumped Eric Goodman for more experienced. (Hey, the government contends the guy is corrupt, not stupid.) And one does not hire lawyers of this sort to negotiate a plea bargain. Herrera — unlike former (and alleged) co-conspirator Erin Kenny — is going to fight until a jury verdict.

We’re glad. This case has been dramatic from the start, and we’d hate for it to end with a whimper and not a bang. So, federal prosecutors, when can we schedule the final season of “Law & Order: Vegas Corruption”?