Ulster Unionist Party officers seem set to reject Mr David Trimble's proposals for a formal merger with the British Conservative Party at a meeting in Belfast later today.
Meanwhile, confusion surrounding Mr Trimble's plans deepened last night when the Conservative Party's Northern Ireland spokesman, Mr Quentin Davies, insisted no such proposal was on the table.
Mr Davies confirmed the issue was not discussed when he met Mr Trimble in London on Wednesday.
Mr Trimble surprised his UUP colleagues two weeks ago by proposing a renewal of the Conservative/Unionist link in direct response to an anticipated realignment in Irish nationalist politics involving Fianna Fáil and the SDLP.
Opposition to such a move would span the UUP's pro- and anti-Belfast Agreement divide, with Sir Reg Empey, a close ally of Mr Trimble, warning it would split the party.
The Irish Times has learned Lord (Ken) Maginnis is also adamantly opposed to the move.
Although Mr Jeffrey Donaldson MP is believed to be inclined "in principle" to support a new relationship with the Tories, usually reliable sources say he is unlikely to want the party to make such an important strategic commitment ahead of next year's Assembly elections.
While resolutely refusing to commit himself for or against a Conservative/Unionist merger, Mr Davies left little doubt he did not expect it to acquire momentum.
He told The Irish Times: "This is a very hypothetical question because we have had no such formal proposal at all. People ask me what we're doing about a proposal which we haven't received, which hasn't been made and which frankly, I'm not anticipating."