The Ulster Unionist leader has written to his chief sceptic seeking a meeting in advance of tomorrow's crucial Ulster Unionist Council meeting which could spell the end of the current Stormont executive.
Mr David Trimble's approach to Mr Jeffrey Donaldson is being viewed as the clearest indication to date that the UUP policy of sharing executive power with Sinn Féin is in dire trouble and could be rejected by the 900-member body which decides party policy.
Unionist fears are being focused by next May's Assembly elections and the likelihood of losses to the DUP if current trends continue.
In a flurry of activity yesterday Ulster Unionist Council members received campaigning letters from both Mr Trimble and Mr Donaldson. But, in an indication that the expected 55-45 majority Mr Trimble has held on to at previous meetings could be in jeopardy, the party leader "dropped a note" to his opponent seeking a meeting.
Mr Trimble indicated the differences between the two of them were less cavernous than they appear, and that a common position could be agreed in time for the council meeting.
Mr Trimble's two-page letter to delegates stressed that, as First Minister, he would not share places at the Executive table without conditions. He added that sparking a crisis leading to "the destruction of Stormont would play into Sinn Féin/IRA hands". He also insisted he was not prepared to share power with Mr Martin McGuinness or Ms Bairbre de Brún "at any price".
Commentators believe this could be Mr Trimble's strongest card. By arguing that the agreement is flawed, but that it is the only option, he may well try to impress on council members that any replacement could be worse for the party and the union.
Mr Trimble also touched on what he will portray as the benefits won this week in the form of the appointment of a ceasefire monitor and tougher action on law and order. He said the naming of a monitor could be "a useful tool in the blame game" - a suggestion that unionist action against alleged further breaches could be facilitated by this.
However Mr Donaldson has waved these arguments away, dismissing the ceasefire monitor as little more than "another foreign envoy" hired to spell out the obvious.
He also criticised the time factor involved. No report from a newly appointed monitor is expected before the New Year, way too long for Mr Donaldson.
It is not known what motion the Lagan Valley MP wants to put to delegates, but he says it will strengthen the party in advance of the next election by clarifying its position.
Acknowledging Mr Donaldson's letter yesterday, Mr Trimble emphasised their similarity on many issues. "We're probably not very far apart on many matters," he said.
He said this was the basis for his approach to Mr Donaldson and that a common "sensible and balanced" position would be better than a confrontational one.
The Northern Secretary yesterday denied the British government had moved to bolster Mr Trimble. He denied that the agreement to back the idea of a ceasefire monitor and the drive to get tough on street violence and other crime was motivated by the forthcoming UUC meeting.There was no indication last night how Mr Donaldson would respond to his leader's overture.
If he accepts the invitation to talk then a meeting will almost certainly be held today. The 900 members of the UUC gather in a south Belfast hotel in the morning.