Attempts by Mr David Trimble to find common cause with party rebels in advance of today's UUC meeting have failed. The unionist leader met his chief critics, Mr Jeffrey Donaldson and Mr David Burnside, in Hillsborough yesterday.
But this did not bridge the gulf between those who demand gradual sanctions against Sinn Féin for alleged IRA ceasefire breaches and others confident enough to stand by the party leader.
However, with many Assembly members now concerned for their electoral survival as the May 2003 Stormont poll approaches, Mr Burnside said few were prepared to tolerate what he called a "do-nothing" policy.
Other Ulster Unionists at Stormont spoke of the difficulty Mr Trimble faces if he is to avoid new strictures on his leadership and on the policy of tolerating, as they see it, the republican movement's gradual transition to constitutional politics.
"David could find himself having to move to a position which is harder than the one he is taking now," said one.
"There is pressure on him to accept some graduated form of sanctions. There is no rush to pull the Assembly down, but there is no stomach for sitting still either."
Mr Burnside said: "What we have to come up with is something that doesn't smash Stormont but which puts pressure on Sinn Féin-IRA and, I have to say, puts pressure on the SDLP to look at alternatives.
"A do-nothing policy is not an option and it appears that a do-nothing policy is the alternative we are being offered."
Mr Trimble yesterday stuck by his argument that the announcement by the British government this week of the appointment of an international ceasefire observer to review alleged breaches of paramilitary cessations was significant. Mr Donaldson disagreed.
"Jeffrey has said that he does not need somebody to come and tell him that republicans are behaving badly. Of course, he doesn't and I don't either," said Mr Trimble.
"But from the point of view of carrying along with us public opinion nationally and internationally, having got someone who is perceived to be a neutral, detached observer who is looking into these matters will carry opinion and is pretty important."
However, senior party members remain nervous. Mr Jim Rodgers, last year's Belfast lord mayor, said there was "a distinct possibility" unionists would withdraw from the Executive by the new year.
The East Belfast Assembly member added: "What the electorate say to me, as one of their representatives, is that a divided party is going to get nowhere. You all need to be singing from the same hymn sheet."
The East Londonderry MLA, Mr David McClarty, was one of the few Trimble loyalists to speak publicly for the party leader.
He expressed the hope that yesterday's talks would find "some consensus and that we can go in [to today's meeting] much more united than would appear to be the case at the present time".
It now appears that Mr Trimble faces Hobson's choice - either bending to the will of the Donaldson-Burnside faction or standing firm and demanding the backing of the 900 Ulster Unionist Council members.
If he does the former, they will be able to influence his leadership, but if he calls for a vote and wins by his "usual" UUC majority of 55-45, he could be gravely compromised.