Mr David Trimble appears to be resisting pressure from both wings of his party to set a specific Christmas deadline for UUP withdrawal from the Northern Executive in the continued absence of IRA decommissioning.
Talks continued yesterday between emissaries from the Trimble camp and the leading dissident MP, Mr Jeffrey Donaldson. And there were indications last night that a deal appeared possible on a composite motion which could prevent a showdown at Saturday's meeting of the Ulster Unionist Council.
The emerging plan could see the Ulster Unionists demand an immediate review of the Belfast Agreement, to be completed by Christmas, and the party's phased withdrawal from North/South institutions should it be refused.
However, amid speculation that the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, might shortly travel to Belfast there were conflicting signals from within the Trimble camp.
Mr Ken Maginnis MP, a key ally of Mr Trimble, is sceptical about the possibility of any deal with Mr Donaldson. At the same time he is urging a similarly specific timetable for IRA decommissioning, based on his original concept of "bench-marking", to be geared to next March and the UUC's annual meeting.
Another section of Mr Trimble's Assembly constituency is against setting deadlines, apparently confident that Mr Trimble can win by arguing the advantages of the agreement for unionism, and challenging his party to honour the commitment it entered into last May.
Following the May negotiations at Hillsborough both governments indicated that the revised timetable for the completion of decommissioning should be next June.
However, Mr Donaldson, supported now by some pro-agreement officers and Assembly members, has publicly rejected postponing decisions until next spring, on the basis that this would be impossibly close to the scheduled local government, and probable general, election campaigns.
Mr Trimble's deputy, Mr John Taylor, is also believed to take the view that decisions taken at that point would lack credibility with the electorate, and that it is inconceivable for the party to carry on in government with Sinn Fein into the new year without a significant breakthrough on the arms issue.
The plan under continuing discussion for a new unionist "consensus" is rooted in the idea of a demand for an immediate review of the working of the Belfast Agreement. The purpose of the review, from the UUP's perspective, would be to demonstrate the failure of the IRA to fulfil its promise to put weapons verifiably and permanently beyond use.
This appears in line with Mr Taylor's call last week for "a clear and specific timetable to bring about a review of the agreement and the exclusion of Sinn Fein from the Executive".
The Ulster Unionist leader and First Minister is not involved in the overtures to the anti-agreement camp but is being kept fully informed about the progress of the talks. It is understood they are being conducted by two Assembly members, Mr Danny Kennedy and Mr Fred Cobain, in full consultation with the Enterprise Minister, Sir Reg Empey.
Although many Ulster Unionists are said to have "discounted" in advance any second inspection of IRA weapons dumps, the British government remains anxious that that process continue speedily. And pressure is being maintained on republicans through Dublin to have the IRA renew its engagement with the International Decommissioning Commission.