Talks on the devolution of justice and policing powers to Stormont are to continue today between Sinn Féin and Tony Blair's closest officials amid some positive signs.
British sources have indicated to The Irish Timesthat progress is being made.
However, the discussions must provide an agreed model soon if there is any hope of the British and Irish governments' deadline for the restoration of Belfast Agreement institutions being met by March 26th.
The Sinn Féin leadership met on Saturday to review progress following a week of intense meetings with British officials which continued until Christmas Eve, with both British prime minister Tony Blair and Northern Secretary Peter Hain involved.
Policing and justice, including endorsement of the PSNI, are among the most contentious outstanding issues of the peace process for republicans.
Indications are that the party is edging towards changing policy on the police despite some unease within its ranks and against a background of threats by dissident republicans to leading Sinn Féin members.
Such a move, were it to come this week, would keep alive both the prospect of an imminent party ardfheis to review the formal policy on policing and the St Andrews plan to call an assembly election and to restore the Stormont institutions by late March.
However, this week's talks will throw up difficult choices, not just for Gerry Adams but for the Rev Ian Paisley, who must consider what his response will be in the event of any new policy announcement by Mr Adams.
In a statement issued after internal Sinn Féin discussions at the weekend, the party's chief negotiator insisted progress towards an agreement was being made. Martin McGuinness said: "For the last week Sinn Féin has been involved in intense discussions with the British government, including British prime minister Tony Blair, to try to resolve the outstanding issues in the peace process.
"Progress is being made and this work will continue...We are determined to do all that we can to find agreement with the DUP to get the power-sharing institutions up and running immediately after the March elections."
However, Mr McGuinness said some public comments from leading unionists were making things more difficult for republicans.
"The deliberately provocative statements from some senior DUP figures is a cause of concern to nationalists and republicans because key to moving forward is a commitment from the DUP to sharing power on the basis of equality with republicans."
A republican source has suggested the DUP leader could have some difficulty leading his party into power-sharing with Sinn Féin even if he wants to.
A second republican concern involves a fixed timetable for the devolution of policing and justice powers to any restored Stormont executive.
The DUP is refusing to yield on this question despite a Sinn Féin insistence that it cannot accept any plan that is not underwritten by dated commitments.
Talks are understood to be planned for the rest of this week.
Agreement must be finalised soon to permit the dissolution of the Assembly next month and the calling of fresh elections for March 7th, with the leading nationalist and unionist parties campaigning positively for a fresh mandate to enter an executive together.