DUP leader Ian Paisley leads a party delegation to Downing Street for crucial talks with British prime minister Tony Blair today which could decide if a powersharing agreement is reached with Sinn Féin by Monday's deadline.
The meeting is considered more important than the DUP talks on a financial package with chancellor Gordon Brown tomorrow. The DUP delegation will include Ian Paisley jnr, Nigel Dodds and Peter Robinson.
The talks follow the firm insistence by Northern Secretary Peter Hain that the March 26th deadline is absolute and that Stormont will be closed in the absence of agreement by then.
However, key DUP figures also issued tough statements yesterday, countering the inflexible government stance.
DUP deputy leader Peter Robinson said: "The DUP is not and will not be in the business of jumping to Peter Hain's tune or determining our strategy on the basis of threats or bribes."
He added: "No one should be in any doubt that we will use our mandate to ensure all the necessary conditions are in place rather than settling for a second-best, second-rate quick fix to suit Peter Hain.
"All the necessary conditions are not yet in place to ensure a return to stable and durable devolution."
East Derry MP Gregory Campbell insisted: "We said that there would need to be a credible period of testing for Sinn Féin.
"Some of these matters have been addressed but not fully resolved. The credible period of testing has not begun, given Sinn Féin's à la carte approach to policing in the form of the MP Michelle Gildernew's refusal to offer her support for information to be given to the police on dissident activity, all of this adds up to the absurdity of Peter Hain's constant carping on the 26th deadline and what it will mean."
The Assembly, meanwhile, has put in place key measures for the return of devolution. Members supported a new ministerial code and revised standing orders for a powersharing Assembly.
There was some criticism from the SDLP and Ulster Unionists. Sources in both parties told The Irish Times that they believed the avoidance of criticism by both Sinn Féin and the DUP pointed to the increasing likelihood of a deal to form an executive.
Some in the UUP want the party to sit in some form of formal opposition if an executive is agreed. SDLP members are also privately considering this but it is thought that both parties will nominate members to the executive and take up ministerial responsibilities.
Between them, the SDLP and Ulster Unionists will have just three ministers, but this will be sufficient to veto executive decisions.
There was no return to Monday's accusations from the DUP that republicans were failing to provide active local support for the PSNI in south Armagh.
This follows further unrest and the petrol-bombing of emergency workers at the site of the crashed British army helicopter in Crossmaglen.
Mr Paisley jnr had accused Sinn Féin of failing to deliver on its support for the PSNI.
There were also indications yesterday that highly contentious water charges could be deferred for a year if the parties agree to share power.
Following lobbying by the parties and trade unionists, the Northern Ireland Office said: "Water charges will become a matter for the Assembly," if there is a deal by March 26th.